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Final Score: St. Louis 2 - Chicago Cubs 6

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Ryan Dempster gave the Cubs a quality start while Ronny Cedeno and Mark DeRosa knocked in a pair of runs each to help Chicago top St. Louis, 6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

The Cubs extended their advantage over the Cardinals in the NL Central to seven games with the series win, and hold a four-game edge over Milwaukee in the division. The Brewers beat Washington, 5-4, in 13 innings earlier Sunday.

St. Louis is now three games off Milwaukee's pace in the NL wild card standings.

Dempster (13-5) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work to earn the win. Aramis Ramirez scored twice on two hits and a walk.

"He really pitched well," Cubs skipper Lou Piniella said of Dempster and his 13 wins. "He's done it really well. We had a good idea he would pitch well in the rotation. We gave him the opportunity and he's run with it."

Chris Carpenter (0-1) surrendered four runs - two earned - on six hits and two walks while striking out a pair of batters. Carpenter tossed 66 pitches, 40 for strikes, but left with one away in the sixth with a strained right triceps. Carpenter was coming off back-to-back no-decisions and was making just his third start of the season. The righty missed 270 games dating back to last season following Tommy John surgery.

Albert Pujols and Joe Mather drove in the Cardinals' only runs.

"I think experience has made me a better pitcher," Dempster said. "I don't panic in big situations. If you just try to simplify things and execute one pitch at a time -- I know it's a cliche and it's repeated over and over -- but it really just comes down to that."

Chicago manufactured the game's first run in the second frame. Ramirez hustled to second on a looping single that was bobbled by right fielder Ryan Ludwick, tagged and moved to third on a fly ball to center and crossed home on a DeRosa sacrifice fly.

Both starters worked quickly through the middle innings before an eventful sixth for both teams. Alfonso Soriano started the home half with a double to left, moved up on a ground out and came home on a Derrek Lee single to left.

Carpenter walked Ramirez on five pitches and proceeded to motion battery mate Yadier Molina out to the mound. Manager Tony LaRussa and team trainers were quick to follow. Carpenter grabbed near his right shoulder in explaining the injury and LaRussa made a move for reliever Ron Villone.

Adam Kennedy let a tailor-made double-play ball from Jim Edmonds scoot under his glove, bringing in a run, and DeRosa ripped an RBI single off the newly inserted Brad Thompson. Geovany Soto moved DeRosa to third with a single and Cedeno smacked a two-run double to center to put Chicago in front 6-0. He also ended the inning while trying to stretch the hit to a triple.

The Cards got a pair of runs in the seventh. Mather stroked an RBI double down the left field line that ended Dempster's night, and reliever Jeff Samardzija allowed Pujols to put a double into the left field corner, scoring Mather.

Kerry Wood retired the side in the eighth and Carlos Marmol followed suit in the ninth to wrap things up for the Cubs.