Pujols jacks another
Slugger's 14th HR sets April record
St. Louis ? Albert Pujols set a major-league record with his 14th homer in April, a tiebreaking shot in the eighth inning that sent the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Washington Nationals.
After NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter and All-Star Livan Hernandez locked up in a pitchers’ duel, Pujols broke a 1-all tie when he connected off Jon Rauch (0-1) leading off the eighth.
Jason Isringhausen walked the bases loaded in the ninth before retiring Nick Johnson on a comebacker for his seventh save in nine opportunities. Johnson finished 0-for-5, dropping his batting average to .352.
Pujols had been tied with Ken Griffey Jr. (1997) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) for the most home runs in April at 13. The St. Louis slugger also leads the majors with 32 RBIs, matching the team record for April set by Mark McGwire in 1998.
Brewers 16, Cubs 2
Chicago – Prince Fielder hit two of Milwaukee’s six homers, Rickie Weeks connected for his first leadoff shot, and the Brewers had their biggest offensive outburst in six years. Bill Hall, Carlos Lee and J.J. Hardy also connected for the Brewers, who batted around twice and fell one homer short of the franchise record set on April 29, 1980, at Cleveland. Hardy had four RBIs, and Fielder and Weeks each finished with three.
Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2
San Francisco – Randy Winn made two spectacular plays in left field in the top of the ninth, and Moises Alou homered leading off the bottom half for San Francisco.
Reds 6, Astros 3
Cincinnati – Aaron Harang earned his fourth consecutive victory and Cincinnati set a club record for wins in April (17).
Rockies 8, Marlins 7
Miami – Garrett Atkins homered and drove in three runs, leading the Rockies to their third straight victory.
Mets 1, Braves 0
Atlanta – Tom Glavine outpitched John Thomson, and Paul Lo Duca hit his first home run with New York.
Pirates 3, Phillies 2
Pittsburgh – Paul Maholm (1-3) tossed seven strong innings, and Jeromy Burnitz hit a two-run homer for the Pirates.
Dodgers 4, Padres 2
San Diego – Brett Tomko (3-1) pitched seven strong innings to end his recent woes against his former club.