Cards drop pitchers duel in 10

~ The Brewers won1-0 in another showdown for firstin the NL Central.

MILWAUKEE -- Bill Hall sprinted off the field after his two-out, game-winning hit in the 10th inning, barely pausing to slap Brewers manager Ken Macha's hand.

Hall wanted to savor the Milwaukee Brewers' 1-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday privately.

No matter. On the field or in the clubhouse, in St. Louis or Miller Park, the Brewers are getting used to celebrating wherever they want against their NL Central rivals.

Hall snapped a 1-for-28 slump with his RBI single and lifted Milwaukee to its 11th win in the last 12 over the Cardinals, who've said they don't like the young Brewers' brash attitudes and penchant for public celebrations.

Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter throws during the fifth inning of Monday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Carpenter took a perfect game into the seventh inning. (MORRY GASH ~ Associated Press)

"I got the big hit, everybody just came into the clubhouse and we celebrated in here. Just having fun with ourselves," Hall insisted. "We care about each other in here."

Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter took a perfect game into the seventh inning, and the Brewers' Yovani Gallardo carried a no-hitter into the sixth before each finished allowing just two hits over eight innings.

Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth and Carlos Villanueva (2-3) the 10th for the Brewers, setting up Hall's dramatics off St. Louis' Kyle McClellan (2-2).

Casey McGehee reached on an error by third baseman Brian Barden to lead off the 10th for the Brewers.

"It wasn't a tough play," Barden said. "It just didn't go in my glove. That's all I can say."

Prince Fielder was intentionally walked one out later and retired at second on Mike Cameron's fielder's choice.

It appeared that the Cardinals might have been able to turn two on Cameron's grounder, but McClellan deflected the ball, forcing shortstop Brendan Ryan to pull up and settle for one out.

"I asked Brendan if it was hit hard enough to turn two and he didn't think so," McClellan said.

Manager Tony La Russa disagreed.

"If we don't tip that ball, it's an easy double play," La Russa said.

After Cameron reached second on defensive indifference, Hall, who entered the game in the ninth inning, drove McClellan's pitch to right-center field and wasted no time touching first base before sprinting back into the clubhouse.

"It's all about getting rid of the negative thoughts out as fast as possible," said Hall, who played as part of platoon last season after slumping badly. "That's something I'm working on."

Carpenter extended his scoreless streak to 23 innings. He retired the first 18 batters and finished with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

"I'm past personal stuff. It's about winning ball games when you're at this level," Carpenter said. "I gave up two grounder hits, and I'll take that all year long."

Carpenter, who missed five weeks with a strained left rib cage muscle he hurt during a start against Arizona on April 14, hadn't faced Milwaukee since 2006, but was strong as the midafternoon shadows crept across the infield.

The 12-year veteran whose career has been derailed by elbow and shoulder injuries, finally allowed a single to Craig Counsell to lead off the seventh when second baseman Skip Schumaker couldn't make a diving stab. Cameron also singled in the eighth.

Carpenter, who threw 93 pitches in his second start since coming off the DL, left for McClellan to start the ninth and McClellan worked a perfect ninth before the rocky 10th.

Gallardo allowed two walks in the first inning, but retired 14 straight during one stretch until Ryan began the sixth with a slow chopper in the hole and beat shortstop Craig Counsell's throw.

Counsell, in for the injured J.J. Hardy, nearly collided with rookie third baseman Mat Gamel on the play, but Gallardo retired the next two before walking Albert Pujols intentionally to face Chris Duncan and got the ground out to end the threat.

Gallardo didn't allow another baserunner until a single by Schumaker in the eighth, but the young right-hander struck out Colby Rasmus and Pujols to end his day with six strikeouts.

"He's the ace of our staff," Hall said. "For him to only be 23 years old with that kind of poise is amazing. Hopefully he continues to grow and continues to get better because we're going to need him."

Notes: It was Milwaukee's second 1-0 win over St. Louis this year

after also turning the feat on May 16. ... Carpenter had at least 10 strikeouts for the 10th time in his career. ... The Brewers called up veteran OF Frank Catalanotto before Monday's game and sent LHP R.J. Swindle back to Triple-A Nashville. Catalanotto, who was cut at the end of spring training from Rangers camp to make room for Andruw Jones, signed with Milwaukee on May 12. Catalanotto played three games in Double-A Huntsville before being called up. "Last time I was in Double-A was 1996," Catalanotto said. "The only thing that's changed in that ballpark is the paint. They changed the paint color from blue to black." ... Hardy (back spasms) is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday. ... Commissioner Bud Selig was in attendance with his wife, Sue.