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St. Louis (71-54) at San Diego (52-73)

John Smoltz insists his career isn’t over. The NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals are hoping he’s right.

The former ace and onetime elite closer will make his debut for the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon when he takes the mound against the last-place San Diego Padres.

Smoltz went 2-5 with an 8.33 ERA in eight starts for Boston following shoulder surgery that caused him to miss most of 2008. The 42-year-old right-hander’s stint with the Red Sox came to an end when he was designated for assignment Aug. 7, one day after a poor performance in a 13-6 loss to the New York Yankees. He allowed eight runs and nine hits, including two homers, with four walks before being pulled with one out in the fourth inning.

“The only thing I can’t do is justify the results, but they weren’t as bad as they looked,” said Smoltz, the 1996 NL Cy Young Award winner and the major league record-holder with 15 playoff wins. “But I felt I was close. I just didn’t make the mechanical adjustments physically.”

Smoltz cleared waivers Wednesday and promptly signed with the Cardinals (71-54), who were looking for someone to solidify the back of their rotation or act as a setup man to closer Ryan Franklin. The eight-time All-Star was told he’d get two turns in the rotation before the team evaluates his progress.

“The reasonable expectation is you are going to get a nasty guy on the mound who will regain his nastiness,” Smoltz said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.

“If I had to come to a team and be perfect the very first or second time, it wasn’t going to be a good fit. If the luxury was there to show some patience and give me some innings, then the upside was going to be worth it.”

Smoltz debuted with Atlanta in 1988, and spent his entire career there before signing a one-year, $5.5-million deal with Boston. He’s 212-152 with a 3.32 ERA and 154 saves, the only pitcher in major league history with 200 wins and 150 saves.

“He’s going to do whatever we need the most,” manager Tony La Russa said. “It’ll be really good for him to come out and stretch out his arm and work on his pitches and let us take a look at him.”

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. The Cardinals won 7-0. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals' Rick Ankiel, left, is congratulated by teammate Brendan Ryan, right, after Ankiel hit a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. The Cardinals won 7-0. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter follows through on a single hit during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. The Cardinals won 7-0. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, right, slides safely into second base under the tag San Diego Padres second baseman David Eckstein, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols, right, jokes with San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


San Diego Padres Adrian Gonzalez, left, leads off first base next to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday, left, is congratulated by teammate Albert Pujols, right, in front of San Diego Padres catcher Henry Blanco, center, after Holliday hit a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday follows through on a three-run home run hit off of San Diego Padres pitcher Kevin Correia during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


San Diego Padres pitcher Kevin Correia delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Associated Press-SAN DIEGO -- Matt Holliday got the St. Louis Cardinals off to a fast start and Chris Carpenter took over from there.

Carpenter pitched seven crisp innings after Holliday hit a three-run homer in the top of the first, leading the Cardinals to a 7-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Holliday hit the first pitch he saw from Kevin Correia over the wall in center, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead before Carpenter took the mound.

"Coming out and getting three runs there early was nice," Carpenter said. "Being able to pound the strike zone and get ahead and be aggressive was the key."

Carpenter (14-3) won his ninth consecutive decision and moved into a tie for the major league lead in victories. The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

cardsfansince82 wrote:I have a Smoltzboner and it's only 6AM.

JDE wrote:Can anyone remember another time when Pujols struck out 3 times in a game? I can't recall if i've ever seen this.

Hungary Jack wrote:

JDE wrote:Can anyone remember another time when Pujols struck out 3 times in a game? I can't recall if i've ever seen this.

I noticed that this am in looking at the box. He's really in a bit of a funk, at least statistically. I haven't seen many of his ABs lately, but I cannot imagine that he's taking very good swings.

sighyoung wrote:Four or five solid innings would make me very happy today. Give him a few starts to round himself back into form.