St. Louis Cardinals activate Carpenter from disabled list

ST. LOUIS (AP) The St. Louis Cardinals have activated All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter from the disabled list before Friday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves.

Carpenter missed 24 games after being disabled July 7 with a right oblique strain.

Carpenter, an All-Star for the third time, is hitting .298 with 14 homers and 53 RBI in 78 games. He played three games at second base and one at third during a rehab at Double-A Springfield, where he went 4-for-12 with a double and a homer.

Left-handed reliever Dean Kiekhefer was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.