|
Pujols hit a two-run homer in the third inning against
left-hander Andrew Heaney and a three-run shot in the fourth
against right-hander Phil Bickford as the Cardinals reduced
their magic number for clinching the National League Central
title to four.
Pujols, who has 21 home runs on the season, joined Babe Ruth
(714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) in the 700 club.
Lars Nootbaar, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson also hit home runs
for the Cardinals (89-63).
St. Louis left-hander Jose Quintana (6-6) gave up five hits over
6 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out six without issuing a
walk. Quintana is 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 starts since moving
to the Cardinals from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade
deadline.
Heaney (3-3) allowed four runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings
with two walks and five strikeouts.
The Dodgers (104-47) lost for the third time in their past four
games.
Pujols' first home run gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead, with his
historic three-run shot in the fourth made it 5-0.
The sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd gave Pujols a curtain call
after the second home run. The veteran of 22 seasons hit 12 home
runs as a member of the Dodgers last season.
The Cardinals scored three times in the fifth inning, getting an
RBI double from Dylan Carlson and a two-run homer from Nootbaar,
his 14th, for an 8-0 lead.
Yepez hit his 12th of the season in the seventh inning, and two
batters later Nootbaar hit a run-scoring single for his third
RBI. Burleson, pinch-hitting for Pujols, belted his first career
home run in the eighth against Dodgers infielder Hanser Alberto.
Alberto pitched the final two innings, retiring six consecutive
batters after Burleson's leadoff home run, in his ninth
appearance on the mound this season. Cardinals outfielder Corey
Dickerson pitched a scoreless ninth.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was given a rare night
off, just the second time this season he was not in the starting
lineup. Los Angeles has scored six runs over its past four
games.
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
