Cardinals continue to roll

Pujols homers for 5th time in 4 games in 10-5 win

? Albert Pujols is playing despite a painful heel condition. Not that it’s slowing the St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger one bit.

Pujols homered for the fifth time in four games and tied his career high with five RBIs in a 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. He has plantar fasciitis in his left heel, an injury more commonly associated with long-distance running.

“It’s bothering me, but when I’m out there and I cross that white line I’m ready to play,” Pujols said. “I don’t care what kind of injury I have. If I have to push it, I’m going to push it because that’s the way I am.”

Pujols, 9-for-18 with 11 RBIs in the last four games for the Cardinals, also scored his NL-leading 100th and 101st runs. He has scored 100 or more runs in each of his first four major-league seasons.

Pujols hit a two-run double in the first, doubled and scored on a close play in the seventh, and hit a three-run homer off John Riedling in the eighth. It’s the second five-RBI game of the year and fifth of his career for Pujols, who also did it July 20 at Chicago.

Pujols met reporters after the game with his heel wrapped in ice.

“He is hurt, but he’s a gamer,” manager Tony La Russa said. “He runs through the pain. When he doesn’t have to run you see him back off.”

Scott Rolen drove in two runs for the Cardinals, giving him a major-league-leading 104 RBIs. He had a run-scoring double in the third and an RBI single in the seventh, and has 24 RBIs in his last 26 games.

Braves 5, Padres 4

San Diego — Chipper Jones hit his 300th career home run, and Mike Hampton pitched seven strong innings and drove in a run in the Braves’ win. Jones homered to lead off the third inning and became the fourth player in franchise history to reach 300, joining Hank Aaron (733), Eddie Mathews (493) and Dale Murphy (371).

Marlins 4, Dodgers 2

Los Angeles — Miguel Cabrera homered, and Mike Lowell singled home the go-ahead run against reliever Darren Dreifort (1-4) in the eighth inning, helping the Marlins beat the Dodgers in Paul Lo Duca’s return to Los Angeles. Carl Pavano (13-5) allowed two runs and six hits in 71/3 innings, and set a career high for victories.

Pirates 8, D’backs 7, 10

Phoenix — Daryle Ward tied a career high with six RBIs and fell a single short of hitting for the cycle for the second time this season, and Jack Wilson hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning. Wilson hit the fly off Greg Aquino (0-1), who then loaded the bases with two walks before striking out Ward to end the inning. Jose Mesa (4-1) won despite allowing four runs on five hits and a walk.

Giants 8, Expos 5

San Francisco — Pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and San Francisco took over the NL wild-card lead with its fifth straight victory. Jason Christiansen (3-2) got the final two outs in the eighth for the win. The Expos tied the game in the top of the eighth.