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Pujols gets 2,000th hit, Jackson wins in Cards debut

Jul 30, 2011 - 6:06 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols recorded his 2,000th career hit and Edwin Jackson claimed a victory in his St. Louis debut, as the Cardinals handled the Cubs, 9-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

Pujols came into Friday's game needing two hits to reach 2,000. Pujols got to the milestone with a pair of doubles. He joined Stan Musial (3,630), Lou Brock (2,713), Rogers Hornsby (2,110) and Enos Slaughter (2,064) as the only Cardinals who tallied 2,000 hits while with the franchise.

Jackson (1-0) tossed seven strong innings, allowing one run on seven hits to pick up the victory. He struck out four and walked two.

Wednesday was a crazy day for Jackson, who was first shipped from the White Sox to the Blue Jays. Toronto then flipped him hours later along with outfielder Corey Patterson and pitchers Marc Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel to the Cardinals for outfielder Colby Rasmus and pitchers P.J. Walters, Brian Tallet and Trever Miller.

The 27-year-old Jackson knows what its like to be traded before the trade deadline. Last year, the Diamondbacks dealt him to the White Sox.

"It's more important for the team to get a win than myself," Jackson said. "We needed that game."

David Freese hit a three-run homer for the Cardinals, who snapped a brief two- game skid. Ryan Theriot went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored.

Chicago starter Matt Garza (4-8) allowed six runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss.

"We haven't given [Garza] run support, and it's been so difficult for us to score runs, especially lately, that it's tough," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "He threw the ball well enough to win a game if you could score a run for him."

Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd each drove in a run for the Cubs, who have lost four in a row.

The Cubs got on the board in the second. Byrd doubled, Geovany Soto was hit by a pitch and Alfonso Soriano singled to load the bases with nobody out. Byrd crossed the plate when Colvin flied into a double play.

St. Louis took the lead in the fourth. Pujols doubled and Matt Holliday reached on an infield single to put men on the corners. Freese stepped to the plate and smacked the ball over the left-center field wall for a 3-1 edge.

Jackson worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth. With men on second and third and one down, Jackson got Darwin Barney and Aramis Ramirez to ground out.

The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the sixth. Holliday doubled and Skip Schumaker walked to put men on first and second with one out. Yadier Molina followed with an RBI single to left. Daniel Descalso was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Jackson fouled out, James Russell took over on the mound for Garza. Pinch-hitter Theriot greeted Russell with a rocket down the third-base line. The ball deflected off third baseman Ramirez, and two runs scored on the play for a 6-1 lead.

Kyle McClellan took over on the mound for Jackson in the eighth. Barney walked and Carlos Pena reached on an infield single to put men on first and second with one out. Byrd hit an RBI ground-rule double to right. Jason Motte came in from the bullpen and retired the first two batters he faced to keep it a 6-2 contest.

St. Louis responded with three runs in the home eighth to account for the final margin. Carlos Marmol put men on second and third with one out. Soto's throwing error allowed a run to score. Theriot then hit an RBI double to left- center field.

Pujols reached 2,000 hits with an RBI double down the left-field line for a 9-2 margin. The crowd acknowledged Pujols with a standing ovation.

Game Notes

The Cardinals have won their past five meetings with the Cubs. The last time the Cardinals won five straight over the Cubs in the same season was when they took six back in 2000...Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman (strained right rotator cuff) missed the game...St. Louis placed infielder Nick Punto on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained left oblique. To fill the roster spot, the club recalled infielder Tyler Greene from Triple-A Memphis.