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Every Cardinal batter had a hit except Adam Kennedy, who scored twice and drove in a run.
With gusts nearing 30 mph blowing across from left field, LaRue lifted what appeared to be a playable flyball into right off Brian Bannister in the second. The right fielder faded back and then faded back some more, but the ball sailed over the fence for a 2-0 lead.
With two out and two on in the fifth, LaRue smacked a line drive straight toward center fielder Joey Gathright. As Gathright took a few steps in and prepared to make the catch, the ball suddenly and sharply hooked away and rolled to the wall. Both runners scored on the backup catcher's first triple since 2004.
LaRue's four RBIs in four at-bats were only nine fewer than he had in 169 at-bats with the Royals last season.
Bannister (7-7), who had been 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA in five daytime home starts, lasted 4 2-3 innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits.
Rookie Chris Perez (2-0) got the victory after relieving starter Braden Looper, who had a 5-3 lead when he was lifted with one out in the fourth and the bases loaded. Perez went 1 1-3 innings and gave up two hits and one run on Mark Teahen's RBI single.
Pujols, who was hurt and did not play when the Royals swept three from the Cardinals last weekend in St. Louis, connected off Joel Peralta for a two-run shot that made it 9-4 in the sixth.
Skip Schumaker doubled leading off the third and scored when Mike Aviles lost Rick Ankiel's popup in the sun. The Cardinals then took a 5-0 lead on Chris Duncan's RBI single and Adam Kennedy's run-scoring double.
Mark Grudzielanek was 4-for-5 with an RBI single and scored three times for Kansas City. Royals outfielder David DeJesus, who leads the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position, was removed from the game with bruised ribs after a collision at the plate with LaRue in the first inning.
[Associated Press; By DOUG TUCKER]
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