Matt Carpenter is red hot right now.
The 32-year-old first baseman tied a major league record with five extra-base hits as the Cardinals beat the Cubs 18-5 Friday. His stat line was impressive as he went 5-for-5 with a career-high three home runs to go along with two doubles, seven runs batted in and four runs scored.
Carpenter is only the second player in the modern era to record three home runs and two doubles in the same game. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is the other player to accomplish that feat back in 2016.
.@MattCarp13's 16 total bases today ties the single-game #STLCards franchise record. https://t.co/0JLz2RKl1H
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 20, 2018
On May 23, he was hitting .199 with just four home runs. Since then, in less than two months, Carpenter has raised his average to .274 and has eight home runs in the month of July (23 overall).
Carpenter is also a follower of Jesus Christ and shared his Christian testimony with The Increase last year.
“If you’re looking for some solid ground or some rock to hold on to, then there’s only one way,” Carpenter said. “That’s through Him.”
RELATED STORIES:
— Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter shares his story of sports and faith
— Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter pledges $10k for each home run to relief aid efforts in Houston
— Former Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter rededicates life to God after being stranded
— A Cardinal’s Perch to Preach – St. Louis Cardinals’ Christian Day at the Ballpark Event
