Shoulder injury sidelines St. Louis ace

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter is out for the remainder of the season because of a sore shoulder.

The 11-year veteran has struggled with a muscle strain in the back of the shoulder for much of the season.

Carpenter made just four appearances, three starts, covering 15 1/3 innings and has pitched in five Major League games since the end of the 2006 World Series. He had shoulder surgery last year.

"I truly don't even know what to say," he said on the Cardinals' Web site Friday night. "I have no explanation. I can't explain it. The only feeling I had is that I'm disappointed and frustrated and everything else you can think of."

"There's a nerve issue that is a concern," said General Manager John Mozeliak. "But I don't get the feeling that in '09 it should be a huge issue."

Carpenter has a 100-70 career record in 1,537 1/3 innings.