St. Louis ? Injuries to four regulars have eroded Albert Pujols’ protection in the batting order for much of the season and forced the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder perhaps to chase more pitches than usual.

He capitalized on his best chance Monday, hitting a hanging slider from Roberto Novoa for a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning of a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Pujols is among the NL leaders with 103 RBIs, but had driven in only one run in his previous seven games. Although he’d been 9-for-25 in that span, this was his first homer in 10 games.

“Guys like Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols and other guys at the top, Miguel Cabrera, nobody throws the ball down the middle to them,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “So they have to work hard to get everything, and they deserve all the credit.”

Without Scott Rolen and Reggie Sanders, the Cardinals have used the likes of Yadier Molina in the cleanup spot. Jim Edmonds has hit there in 74 games, but has had a subpar year with 25 homers and 78 RBIs.

Still, Pujols has a .336 average that’s second in the league and a major-league-leading 113 runs scored. He doesn’t think he has expanded his strike zone.

“I’ve had Jimmy for the last five years hitting behind me, and I know he’s going to click on and drive me in, so there’s no need for me to put pressure on myself or chase a ball out of the strike zone,” Pujols said. “Believe me, he’s getting hot, so watch out.”

Jeff Suppan didn’t allow any earned runs in six innings, and five relievers finished as St. Louis stopped the Cubs’ three-game winning streak.

With the score 2-all in the eighth, Chicago loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks before Ray King (4-2) retired Todd Walker on an inning-ending flyout.

Novoa (3-5) walked David Eckstein leading off the bottom half, and Abraham Nunez reached on an infield hit. Pujols followed with his 36th homer, his first since Aug. 25.

“We hung a slider, and Albert doesn’t miss sliders too much,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

Will Ohman relieved, and Edmonds connected on his second pitch for his 25th homer. Both homers landed in the Cubs’ bullpen beyond the left-field wall.

Pujols also singled and walked and is 9-for-37 against the Cubs this year, with four homers and eight RBIs.

Giants 3, Dodgers 1

Los Angeles – Julio Ramirez scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by third baseman Mike Edwards in the eighth inning, helping San Francisco to its sixth straight victory.

LaTroy Hawkins (2-5) earned the victory despite facing one batter and giving up the game-tying sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee. Hawkins came on with the bases loaded and one out. Ledee’s fly ball to center scored Jose Cruz Jr., but Jason Werth was thrown out trying to advance to third.

Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 12th save.

Astros 4, Phillies 3

Philadelphia – Andy Pettitte pitched 52â3 scoreless innings, and Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer for Houston, which moved into first place in the NL wild-card standings.

The Astros moved a half-game ahead of Philadelphia and one game ahead of Florida with their 10th consecutive victory over the Phillies. Washington is 11â2 games behind Houston, while the New York Mets trail by three games.

Pettitte (14-9) allowed three hits, struck out five and walked none.

Brewers 6, Reds 1

Cincinnati – J.J. Hardy singled with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead run, and Geoff Jenkins tied his career-high with five hits for Milwaukee.

Hardy singled against Matt Belisle (3-7) with one out, and pinch-hitter Jeff Cirillo followed with another single. The Brewers added three runs in the ninth.

Braves 4, Mets 2

Atlanta – Chipper Jones hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and drove in three runs.

Andruw Jones hit his major-league-leading 45th homer. Atlanta estimated his home run went 452 feet, the sixth-longest at Turner Field.

Nationals 5, Marlins 2

Washington – Livan Hernandez (15-6) didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, took a shutout into the ninth and drove in a run with one of his two singles as Washington won its third straight.

Hernandez left after allowing Miguel Cabrera’s two-run homer. Mike Stanton got Carlos Delgado to fly out, and closer Chad Cordero recorded the final two outs.