Finally healthy in 2004, Carpenter went 15-5 with a 3.46 ERA to earn NL comeback player of the year honors from his peers. But he missed the postseason because of a biceps injury, and St. Louis was swept in the World Series by Boston.

Carpenter won 13 straight decisions this year from June 14 through Sept. 8, helping the Cardinals to the best record in baseball (100-62). He threw 241 2-3 innings, struck out 213 batters and got the best of several other aces around the league.

Carpenter beat Clemens in both of their matchups. He also topped Roy Oswalt, Carlos Zambrano, Andy Pettitte, A.J. Burnett and Willis.

“I was locked in mentally for a very long period of time,” Carpenter said. “Next thing you know, your teammates are behind you saying, ‘Wow! Look at this guy go.”’

He and Willis led the NL with seven complete games apiece. Willis had five shutouts to Carpenter’s four.

Carpenter admitted losing focus a bit in September once St. Louis secured a postseason spot, and he struggled in his final three starts of the regular season. Some thought that might give Willis the opening he needed to win.

But those outings were really nothing more than playoff tuneups for Carpenter — he had a 2.31 ERA when the Cardinals clinched the NL Central.

“It’s a great feeling,” Carpenter said during a conference call from his New Hampshire home. “There’s not a lot of people that come from this area, never mind play in the big leagues.”

Bartolo Colon of the Los Angeles Angels won the AL Cy Young Award on Tuesday. The next award to be handed out is the AL MVP on Monday.

Gibson is the only other St. Louis winner, taking the honor in 1968 and ’70.

Carpenter gets a $50,000 bonus for winning the award, and Clemens gets $25,000 for finishing third.

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