Chris Carpenter

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher passed both his Cubs physical and Red Sox physical after he was sent to Boston as compensation for Theo Epstein, a major league source familiar with the situation said Thursday. Carpenter had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow Thursday and will be out indefinitely. The Red Sox are not likely to receive a different player from the Cubs due to the transparency.

Carlos Beltran drove in a career-best seven runs with a pair of three-run home runs and RBI single in the first three innings, leading the way as the St. Louis Cardinals punished A.J. Burnett and the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-3 on Tuesday night. Rookie Lance Lynn (5-0) joined Steve Shields as the major leagues' only five-game winners, allowing three hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings with six strikeouts to beat the Pirates for the second time in three starts. Lynn has a 1.61 ERA as the replacement starter for Chris Carpenter, sidelined indefinitely with nerve issues in his right shoulder.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The player the Red Sox received as compensation from the Cubs for the hiring of former general manager Theo Epstein, righthanded reliever Chris Carpenter, is having elbow surgery on Thursday. "Headed into surgery tomorrow with Dr Andrews to remove a bone spur in my elbow," Carpenter tweeted on Wednesday. "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season. " Carpenter, 26, has appeared in only two major league spring training games and was not a candidate for the Opening Day roster.

In his first start of the season, A.J. Burnett worked seven scoreless innings to beat St. Louis. The second start against the Cardinals, just 11 days later, was a disaster. Carlos Beltran drove in a career-best seven runs with a pair of three-run home runs and an RBI single in the first three innings, leading the way as the Cardinals punished Burnett and the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-3 on Tuesday night. "Everything was up, every leadoff guy got on," Burnett said. "You can't pitch that way. " Rookie Lance Lynn (5-0)

Chris Carpenter has nerve irritation that has caused weakness in his pitching shoulder and the St. Louis Cardinals' ace will be sidelined indefinitely. The Cardinals made the announcement Friday, after Carpenter was evaluated in St. Louis this week. The team says there is no new nerve injury and the cervical disc injury that occurred earlier in spring training is a "non-issue. " The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner is expected back in camp by Monday, but there is no timetable for his return to the mound.

Red Sox reliever Chris Carpenter, who was obtained from the Chicago Cubs as partial compensation for general manager Theo Epstein, says he will have elbow surgery. Carpenter said on Twitter on Wednesday that Dr. James Andrews will remove a bone spur from his elbow. The Red Sox did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Carpenter Tweeted: "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season!" The 26-year-old right-hander appeared in 10 games for Chicago last season.

The sellout crowd in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark cheered the introduction of their starters, who were accompanied by women dressed as Latin showgirls. There was another roar for Muhammad Ali, who delivered the first pitch. Then Kyle Lohse and the World Series-champion St. Louis Cardinals went to work, and the place grew quiet. Lohse held Miami hitless until the seventh inning and pitched into the eighth to help the Cardinals win the first game in Marlins Park, 4-1, Wednesday night.

ARLINGTON, Texas - As the Cardinals and Rangers prepared to take the field for Game 4 of the World Series last night, Texas manager Ron Washington pulled starting pitcher Derek Holland aside in the dugout. Clamping his hands on Holland's shoulders, Washington spoke forcefully to his pitcher before slapping him on the cheek like a boxing trainer and sending him out to start the first Series game of his career. There was some baseball advice, Washington reminding Holland not to stray too far inside with his fastball against certain hitters.

Kyle Lohse threw six scoreless innings on eight days' rest and the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Jon Jay and Matt Holliday in the third inning, slicing just a bit into the Milwaukee Brewers' formidable NL Central lead with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night. Lohse (13-8), who leads the Cardinals in victories, gave up four hits, struck out six and walked three. He was pushed back two days behind Chris Carpenter and Jake Westbrook after giving up four runs in five innings in a win against Pittsburgh in his last start.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff New Red Sox pitcher Chris Carpenter just Tweeted out his reaction to the trade. "Want to thank the Cubs organization for the very memorable 4 years, met a lot of great people. Will never forget you guys," he wrote. "That being said couldn't be more happy to join the Boston Red Sox. Very excited to get down to Florida and get back to work! #redsoxnation" It has to be weird, essentially being traded for an executive. Now Carpenter has to pack up in Arizona and come to Florida.

Lance Lynn allowed only an inside-the-park homer to Alex Presley in seven innings, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-1 victory the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Presley led off the bottom of the first with a drive off the top of the center field fence, the ball just eluding a leaping center fielder Skip Schumaker. It was just the Pirates' second inside-the-parker at PNC Park since it opened in 2001. Filling in nicely for injured ace Chris Carpenter, Lynn (3-0)

The sellout crowd in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark cheered the introduction of their starters, who were accompanied by women dressed as Latin showgirls. There was another roar for Muhammad Ali, who delivered the first pitch. Then Kyle Lohse and the World Series-champion St. Louis Cardinals went to work, and the place grew quiet. Lohse held Miami hitless until the seventh inning and pitched into the eighth to help the Cardinals win the first game in Marlins Park, 4-1, Wednesday night.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher passed both his Cubs physical and Red Sox physical after he was sent to Boston as compensation for Theo Epstein, a major league source familiar with the situation said Thursday. Carpenter had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow Thursday and will be out indefinitely. The Red Sox are not likely to receive a different player from the Cubs due to the transparency.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The player the Red Sox received as compensation from the Cubs for the hiring of former general manager Theo Epstein, righthanded reliever Chris Carpenter, is having elbow surgery on Thursday. "Headed into surgery tomorrow with Dr Andrews to remove a bone spur in my elbow," Carpenter tweeted on Wednesday. "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season. " Carpenter, 26, has appeared in only two major league spring training games and was not a candidate for the Opening Day roster.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The player the Red Sox received as compensation from the Cubs for the hiring of former general manager Theo Epstein, righthanded reliever Chris Carpenter, is having elbow surgery on Thursday. "Headed into surgery tomorrow with Dr Andrews to remove a bone spur in my elbow," Carpenter tweeted on Wednesday. "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season. " Carpenter, 26, has appeared in only two major league spring training games and was not a candidate for the Opening Day roster.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla. —The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher had passed both his Cubs physical and also his Red Sox physical after he was dealt to the Red Sox as compensation for Theo Epstein, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Red Sox will likely not receive a different player from the Cubs because everything was up front and out in the open. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances, and certainly bad timing, that Carpenter got hurt with the Red Sox and must...

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The player the Red Sox received as compensation for Theo Epstein, righthanded reliever Chris Carpenter, is having elbow surgery on Thursday. "Headed into surgery tomorrow with Dr Andrews to remove a bone spur in my elbow," Carpenter wrote on his Twitter account. "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season. " Carpenter, 26, has appeared in only two major league spring training games and was not a candidate for the Opening Day roster.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff FORT MYERS, Fla. —The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher had passed both his Cubs physical and also his Red Sox physical after he was dealt to the Red Sox as compensation for Theo Epstein, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Red Sox will likely not receive a different player from the Cubs because everything was up front and out in the open. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances, and certainly bad timing, that Carpenter got hurt with the Red Sox and must have bone spurs...

Red Sox reliever Chris Carpenter, who was obtained from the Chicago Cubs as partial compensation for general manager Theo Epstein, says he will have elbow surgery. Carpenter said on Twitter on Wednesday that Dr. James Andrews will remove a bone spur from his elbow. The Red Sox did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Carpenter Tweeted: "Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season!" The 26-year-old right-hander appeared in 10 games for Chicago last season.