Final/10
Pujols' homer lifts Cardinals over Cubs
Apr 23, 2007 - 12:16 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs gave Albert Pujols one too many chances.Pujols slammed a three-run homer in the 10th inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 12-9 victory over the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-game series.
The dramatic blast by Pujols capped a typical Wrigley Field slugfest as the teams combined for 33 hits and six home runs - four by Cardinals.
With the wind blowing out, both starting pitchers got rapped around and each closer suffered blown saves. But the wind was not a factor on Pujols' titanic shot.
"It might have been the best ball I hit all year and with the wind blowing out I knew it was gone," Pujols said. "I wasn't trying to do to much other than put a good swing on it. You didn't have to kill the ball today for it to go out."
Scott Rolen had a career-high five hits, including a solo homer and a two-run triple in the ninth that gave St. Louis a 9-7 lead.
"It was a good day to hit and I felt better at the plate today than I had," Rolen said. "It's nice to raise my batting average 68 points in one day, now I can enjoy the off day without thinking about my swing."
Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen (1-0) couldn't hold it, yielding a pinch-hit double to Alfonso Soriano - who had not played since Monday due to a hamstring strain - followed by a wind-blown pop-up by Mark DeRosa that dropped between three fielders and allowed the two tying runs to score.
That put the game in the hands of Cubs closer Ryan Dempster (0-1), who had been near-perfect in seven previous appearances, allowing just one hit and zero runs.
"Today was tough given the elements and how we battled back twice." Dempster said. "I just try to go after guys, I made a pitch to Albert that came back over the plate and he hit it."
Matt Murton led off with a single and, one out later, David Eckstein singled off the glove of third baseman Aramis Ramirez, bringing Pujols to the plate.
Entering with a .203 batting average, Pujols hammered a pitch from Dempster to deep center field for his fifth homer of the season and 255th career.
"With Pujols at the plate you can not make mistakes," Ramirez said. "He is struggling a bit right now but he showed you why he is an MVP pick every year."
Tyler Johnson and Russ Springer combined to retire the Cubs in order in the bottom of the 10th to end it.
Jim Edmonds and Chris Duncan each delivered a two-run blast for St. Louis.
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright was roughed up for seven runs - all earned - and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
"Today our team showed a lot of heart," Wainwright said. "We kept coming back and our hitters kept me in the game longer than I should have been."
Michael Barrett had a two-run blast and Ramirez added a three-run shot in the bottom the sixth, bringing the Cubs into a 7-7 tie.
Cubs starter Wade Miller lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs and nine hits.
"Today I thought Wade had good stuff," Barrett said. "I don't think his start today is a reflection of his stuff, it was just one of those Wrigley Field days."
- NL
FINAL 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 2
CHICAGO CUBS 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 2
10 R H E
-- - - -
ST LOUIS 3 12 17 0
CHICAGO CUBS 0 9 16 0 (FINAL 10)
BATTERIES: STL
Apr 22 6:05 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY ALBERT PUJOLS (5) TO CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 10TH OFF RYAN DEMPSTER SCORED PRESTON WILSON AND DAVID
ECKSTEIN.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 12, CHICAGO CUBS 9
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S ROLEN (.273, 5-FOR-5, HR, 3 RBI)
Apr 22 5:54 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY ALBERT PUJOLS (5) TO CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 10TH OFF RYAN DEMPSTER SCORED PRESTON WILSON AND DAVID
ECKSTEIN.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 12, CHICAGO CUBS 9
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S ROLEN (.273, 5-FOR-5, HR, 3 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 5:54 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Izturis at shortstop.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 9 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: P Wilson (.234, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 5:49 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Cedeno at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 9 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: P Wilson (.234, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 5:49 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Murton in center field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 9 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: P Wilson (.234, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 5:49 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Dempster relieved B Howry.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 9 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: P Wilson (.234, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 5:49 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - PITCHING CHANGE
CHN: RYAN DEMPSTER (0-0, 0.00) STARTING THE 10TH
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9, CHICAGO CUBS 9
DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: P WILSON (.234, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 5:49 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 2 9 14 0
CHICAGO CUBS 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 2 9 16 0 (TOP 10)
CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JASON ISRINGHAUSEN
CHN - BOBBY HOWRY (OUT)
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: P WILSON (.234, 1-FOR-1)
A MILES (.267, 1-FOR-5)
D ECKSTEIN (.227, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
Apr 22 5:48 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARK DEROSA SCORED MICHAEL BARRETT AND CESAR
IZTURIS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M DEROSA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 9 BOTTOM, 9TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R THERIOT (.354, 3-FOR-5)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 5:45 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY SCOTT ROLEN SCORED CHRIS DUNCAN AND ALBERT
PUJOLS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, S ROLEN ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 9
CHICAGO CUBS 7 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.220, 2-FOR-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 5:22 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 7 11 0
CHICAGO CUBS 2 0 2 0 0 3 7 12 0 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - RANDY FLORES
CHN - NEAL COTTS
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R CEDENO (.115, 0-FOR-3)
F PIE (.143, 1-FOR-3)
M DEROSA (.250, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Apr 22 4:46 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY ARAMIS RAMIREZ (3) TO LEFT CENTER
WITH 1 OUT IN THE 6TH OFF ADAM WAINWRIGHT SCORED RYAN THERIOT AND
DERREK LEE.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 7, CHICAGO CUBS 7
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M BARRETT (.273, 2-FOR-2, BB, HR, 2 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 4:27 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Eyre relieved W Miller.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J EDMONDS ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 7
CHICAGO CUBS 4 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S Spiezio (.161, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 22 3:54 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - PITCHING CHANGE
CHN: SCOTT EYRE (0-1, 14.40) IN THE 5TH
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J EDMONDS ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 7, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: S SPIEZIO (.161, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 22 3:54 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY SCOTT ROLEN (2) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF WADE MILLER.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 7, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.204, 1-FOR-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Apr 22 3:52 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY SCOTT ROLEN (2) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF WADE MILLER.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 7, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.204, 1-FOR-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 3:52 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CHRIS DUNCAN (4) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF WADE MILLER SCORED AARON MILES.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.212, 1-FOR-2)
Apr 22 3:49 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CHRIS DUNCAN (4) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF WADE MILLER SCORED AARON MILES.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.212, 1-FOR-2)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 3:49 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 2 0 2 4 5 0
CHICAGO CUBS 2 0 2 0 4 8 0 (TOP 5)
CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
CHN - WADE MILLER
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A WAINWRIGHT (.333, 0-FOR-1)
A MILES (.259, 0-FOR-2)
C DUNCAN (.317, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 22 3:44 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ADAM KENNEDY SCORED ALBERT PUJOLS AND SCOTT
ROLEN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A KENNEDY ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 4
CHICAGO CUBS 4 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.227, 0-FOR-1)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 3:34 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY MICHAEL BARRETT (4) TO CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 3RD OFF ADAM WAINWRIGHT SCORED DERREK LEE.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 4
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: J JONES (.286, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 3:15 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 2 2 2 0
CHICAGO CUBS 2 2 3 0 (BOT 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
CHN - WADE MILLER
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: F PIE (.111, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
W MILLER (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
R THERIOT (.341, 1-FOR-1)
Apr 22 2:51 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JIM EDMONDS (1) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0
OUT IN THE 2ND OFF WADE MILLER SCORED SCOTT ROLEN.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2
DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S SPIEZIO (.172, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 2:48 PM - NL
AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACQUE JONES SCORED DERREK LEE AND ARAMIS
RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J JONES ON FIRST, M BARRETT ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R CEDENO (.130, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
Cardinals vs. CubsApr 22 2:42 PM
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