Pujols powers Cards to win

Hot-hitting St. Louis spanks Pittsburgh, 8-1

? Albert Pujols has compiled impressive statistics in almost every place he’s played. They’re just a little better in Pittsburgh.

Pujols went 5-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, leading the Cardinals to a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

It was Pujols’ second career five-hit game, both coming at PNC Park, where he is hitting .412 (47-for-114) with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs since the park opened in 2001, his rookie season.

“I don’t think about the park,” Pujols said. “It doesn’t matter where it happens. Wherever we play, I try to do my best and help our team win.”

The Cardinals have at least 10 hits — 13 Tuesday — in each of their last 14 visits to Pittsburgh, going 12-2. They are 20-6 overall in the Pirates new stadium. No visiting team has won more games there.

Pujols is batting .524 in his past 11 games, with seven home runs and 14 RBIs.

“He hits every place against everybody,” said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, whose team is 4-1 on its seven-game road trip and leads the NL in road victories, with a 17-9 record.

The Cardinals overcame the loss of Scott Rolen, who was hit in the batting helmet with a pitch by Ryan Vogelsong in the first inning. Rolen remained in the game and scored in the Cardinals’ three-run first, but was ordered out of the game in the bottom half. He was taken out for precautionary reasons and will be reevaluated today.

Rolen, who had a bump on his forehead, was diagnosed with a mild concussion.

“I’ve never been hit that hard,” he said. “At that time of the day, it’s hard to see the ball. I never saw it. I had no chance to even soften the blow.”

Asked if he had a headache, Rolen said, “Yeah. When you get hit with a 95-mph fastball in the head, a headache isn’t out of the question.”

St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols watches the flight of his fifth hit of the game, a double in the ninth inning of the Cardinals' 8-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Pujols powered the Cards to the win Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Rolen did not hold a grudge against Vogelsong.

“I’ll tell you what, I’m a Vogelsong fan,” Rolen said. “He came out of the game and he called over to the clubhouse and asked me if I was all right and apologized. That’s first-class right there.”

La Russa, on the other hand, is not.

“Anytime you’re in the major leagues, you throw the ball inside, you have to get it below the shoulders,” La Russa said. “I mean, that’s inexcusable. It just doesn’t look real good when (Rolen) hits a three-run homer (Monday), and I believe he hit a three-run home run against that kid.”

Rolen hit a three-run home run off Vogelsong on Thursday in St. Louis.

“He knows it wasn’t intentional,” Vogelsong said.

Reds 7, Marlins 6

Miami — Adam Dunn homered twice, including a tiebreaking drive in the 10th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the third time in five games to lead Cincinnati. With the score 5-all in the 10th, Dunn connected off Nate Bump (0-3) for his 14th homer of the season. Wily Mo Pena added an RBI single for a 7-5 lead. Mike Mordecai had an RBI single in the bottom half off Danny Graves, who then retired Larry Sutton on a game-ending flyout for his 25th save in 29 chances.

Braves 7, Expos 6

Atlanta — Rookie Nick Green hit a three-run homer, and J.D. Drew followed with another home run in the ninth inning, giving the Braves a victory over Montreal. Green, filling in for the injured Marcus Giles, hit a tying shot off Rocky Biddle (0-3) with two outs, and Drew hit the winner on the next pitch.

Mets 4, Phillies 1 (10)

Philadelphia — Todd Zeile hit a tying solo homer in the eighth and a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. Kaz Matsui singled to open the 10th and stole his seventh base on the next pitch. Zeile then hit a high fastball from Tim Worrell (1-2) up the middle to give the Mets the lead.

Astros 5, Cubs 3

Chicago — Pinch-hitter Michael Lamb had a go-ahead double in the eighth inning, and the Astros took advantage of an error. With two outs and the score 3-3 in the eighth, Brad Ausmus hit a weak grounder to second baseman Todd Walker, who rushed his throw. The ball sailed wide of first baseman Derrek Lee, pulling him off the bag, and put runners on first and second with two outs. Lamb then lined a hit into left-center off Kyle Farnsworth (0-3).

D’backs 6, Giants 5

Phoenix — Luis Gonzalez singled home Scott Hairston in the ninth inning to help Arizona stop the Giants’ 10-game winning streak. Steve Finley homered twice to tie Albert Pujols for the major-league lead with 16, and the Diamondbacks won for just the third time in 13 games.

Rockies 7, Padres 1

San Diego — Charles Johnson doubled three times and drove in four runs to help Colorado beat San Diego for its first back-to-back road wins of this season. Johnson doubled in each of his first three at-bats, giving him five straight doubles over two nights, one short of the major-league record.

Brewers 4, Dodgers 1

Los Angeles — Doug Davis pitched six scoreless innings on three days’ rest in place of Ben Sheets to lead Milwaukee past Los Angeles. Scott Podsednik led off the game with a home run, and Davis (4-4) allowed just four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.