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Pujols Game Day

Cardinals pound Brewers, again, again, and again..

The St. Louis Cardinals gave the Milwaukee Brewers a major beatdown this week. Coming into the series 5.5 games out of first place, the Cardinals have put themselves in position, with 44 games to go, to compete in the National League Central race, and possibly another National League title. The Cardinals are now 58-60, 2.5 games out of first place, behind the Brewers, who are now 62-59, and the Cubs, who are 61-59. The Cardinals are now 29-20 against NL Central foes.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals trailed 3-0 early, before making a big comeback, scoring twice in the third on a Ryad Ludwick rbi double, then 6 in the 5th, 2 in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th. Our man, Pujols had 3 hits, and everyone in the lineup had a hit for the Cardinals, except Brendan Ryan. Jim Edmonds had a season high 4 hits. Kip Wells went 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs and struck out 5, to improve to 6-13.

Wednesday’s game started out well for the Cardinals, as Pujols went deep in the first off Yavardi Gallardo, and then Scott Rolen blasted a 2 run homerun, for a 3-0 lead after 1. The Brewers got one back in the 2nd, Cardinals added a run in the fourth, and 3 in the sixth to bust it open to 7-1. The Brewers picked up a run in the 7th to make it 7-2, but then one more in the 8th, made it 8-1, then the Brewers got 2 in the 8th, for a 8-3 final. The Cardinals pounded out 13 hits, after 19 the night before. The Brewers had 7 hits both Tuesday and Wednesday night. Albert went 2-5 to raise his average to .318. Scott Rolen picked up 4 hits on the night. Joel Pinero pitched his second straight back to back great decision, going 7 innings, allowing just 5 hits, 2 runs while striking out 4.

Thursday, the Brewers had a chance to stop the bleeding, and not let the Cardinals completely back in it. Adam Wainwright had other ideas. Wainwright went 7 innings of 2 hit, no run ball, and Yadier Molina homered twice, to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead, going into the 9th. A 5 run 9th off Turnbow and Cordero, blew the game wide open, as the Cardinals won 8-0. Ryan Franklin and Troy Percival slammed the door on the Brewers the last two innings, as the Cardinals outhit the Brewers 9-4. In the three games, the Cardinals picked up 41 hits, to the Brewers 18, while outscoring them 28-7. Pujols went 1-5 on Thursday to maintain a .317 batting average(8th in the NL).