Another day, another Albert Pujols game-winning homer. At this rate, he’ll hit 112 home runs. Pujols and Chris Shelton have each hit 9 HR in their first 13 games, 2nd best in major league history behind Mike Schmidt, who hit 11 in the first 13 games of 1976 (he actually was homerless in game 13 on 4/27/76, so it was 11 in his first 12 including a four homer, 8 RBI game). Schmidt ended up cooling off in 1976, and hit .262 with 38 HR and 95 RBI.
Pujols’ game-winning dinger came in the top of the first, as Jason Marquis made the lead hold up through eight strong innings. That means Pujols hit homers in four straight plate appearances, the first Cardinal to do so (Stan Musial hit HRs in four straight at-bats, but there were walks in between official at bats). He hit game-winning homers in two straight plate appearances. The four homers in four straight plate appearances marked the 20th time the feat had been accomplished.
Pujols’ long ball drove in So Taguchi, who filled the #2 hole in the order, allowing Juan Encarnacion to take the 5 hole vacated by Jim Edmonds. Taguchi was 2-5, an improvement over Encarnacion’s recent performance in that role. Hector Luna got the start at 2B, and went 2-4, keeping his average at .500 on the season. This offense continues to be carried by Pujols, Scott Rolen and the combination of Luna and Aaron Miles, while Edmonds, Encarnacion and Yadier Molina wait to get on track.
Jason Marquis had another strong outing, giving up a single run on three hits over eight innings. Two of those hits came in the eighth, as a pinch hit single by Nate McLouth drove in Jose Castillo, who had doubled.
Marquis got out of the eighth with no further damage, and Jason Isringhausen pitched around a leadoff double in the ninth to get the save, finishing with two strikeouts and a grounder to second. Hopefully, this means Izzy, who had served up game-winning HRs in 2 of his last 3 appearances, has turned a corner.
The Cards play game 2 of a three-game set with the Pirates at PNC Tuesday. Jeff Suppan (0-1, 4.09) faces the Bucs’ Oliver Perez (0-2, 8.10).
Pujols’ game-winning dinger came in the top of the first, as Jason Marquis made the lead hold up through eight strong innings. That means Pujols hit homers in four straight plate appearances, the first Cardinal to do so (Stan Musial hit HRs in four straight at-bats, but there were walks in between official at bats). He hit game-winning homers in two straight plate appearances. The four homers in four straight plate appearances marked the 20th time the feat had been accomplished.
Pujols’ long ball drove in So Taguchi, who filled the #2 hole in the order, allowing Juan Encarnacion to take the 5 hole vacated by Jim Edmonds. Taguchi was 2-5, an improvement over Encarnacion’s recent performance in that role. Hector Luna got the start at 2B, and went 2-4, keeping his average at .500 on the season. This offense continues to be carried by Pujols, Scott Rolen and the combination of Luna and Aaron Miles, while Edmonds, Encarnacion and Yadier Molina wait to get on track.
Jason Marquis had another strong outing, giving up a single run on three hits over eight innings. Two of those hits came in the eighth, as a pinch hit single by Nate McLouth drove in Jose Castillo, who had doubled.
Marquis got out of the eighth with no further damage, and Jason Isringhausen pitched around a leadoff double in the ninth to get the save, finishing with two strikeouts and a grounder to second. Hopefully, this means Izzy, who had served up game-winning HRs in 2 of his last 3 appearances, has turned a corner.
The Cards play game 2 of a three-game set with the Pirates at PNC Tuesday. Jeff Suppan (0-1, 4.09) faces the Bucs’ Oliver Perez (0-2, 8.10).
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