MIAMI -- It wasn't a homer, but it counted in another way for Matt Carpenter.
Fresh off his second National League Player of the Week Award in three weeks, Carpenter extended the Majors' longest active on-base streak in Monday night's 2-1 loss to the Marlins at Marlins Park. By lining a leadoff single off Drew Steckenrider in the eighth, Carpenter reached base for the 25th consecutive game.
Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo owns the longest such streak of 2018, at 52 games.
Carpenter's hit was one of the few signs of life the Cardinals' offense showed on Monday, when they were held scoreless through eight innings. He was left stranded at second base when Jedd Gyorko flied out to deep center to end the inning.

Carpenter, who walked with the bases loaded in the ninth, had homered in his last three games -- 12 dingers in his last 20. He is tied with Nolan Arenado for the NL lead with 29.