Cubs 2 - 3 Cardinals
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Take 2: Pujols blasts Cardinals past Cubs in extras

Jun 6, 2011 - 12:26 AM

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols hit his second game-winning home run in as many days to lead St. Louis past Chicago, 3-2, and complete a three-game sweep.

Pujols also homered in the 12th inning of Saturday's game to give the Cardinals a 5-4 victory in the second installment of the series.

Ryan Theriot hit an RBI double in the ninth to extend the game, and Fernando Salas (3-0) was given the win when he pitched a scoreless 10th inning. Starter Chris Carpenter allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks through nine innings. He also struck out six in the Cardinals' fourth win in six games.

Rodrigo Lopez (0-1) took the mound in the 10th and gave up the home run to Pujols, the only batter he faced. Carlos Zambrano went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three in the Cubs' eighth loss in their last nine games.

"We should know better than this. We're playing like a Triple-A team. This is embarrassing for the team, embarrassing for the owners, embarrassing for the fans," Zambrano said about the loss.

Pujols lead off the 10th and smacked a 2-1 fastball over the left-center field wall to give the Cardinals the go-ahead run.

St. Louis knotted the game up in the ninth off of closer Carlos Marmol. Yadier Molina led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Tony Cruz. Marmol then got Daniel Descalso to strike out on a check-swing and Colby Rasmus to fan on a low-and-inside slider before Theriot doubled down the left- field line to score Cruz and tie the game at two.

"I was looking for the slider the whole time. He started me off with two fastballs, though, and I was lucky to get a slider I was able to handle and I put a good swing on it," said Theriot.

Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro hit back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth before both came around to score two batters later when Aramis Ramirez doubled to right-center field and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Pujols hit a one-out infield single in the sixth, moved to second on a single by Jon Jay and came around to score on a third straight single by Allen Craig to put the Cardinals on the board.

Game Notes

Theriot extended his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games...Zambrano threw 73 of his 107 pitches for strikes while Carpenter threw 84 of his 118 pitches for strikes.






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