Pujols powers Cardinals past Angels

Jun 10, 2007, 22:00 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Albert Pujols hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Angels, 9-6, in the finale of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

Scott Spiezio added a three-run homer and David Eckstein went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Cardinals, who ended a three-game slide and finished a six-game homestand, 3-3.

St. Louis starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer (2-1) got the win in just his third major league start, surrendering five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two to win his second straight decision.

Orlando Cabrera had two hits and drove in two runs for the Angels, who lost for only the second time in nine games.

The Angels lost starting pitcher Jered Weaver in the third inning with tightness in his lower back. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits with two walks. He avoided the loss, which went to Chris Bootcheck, who yielded the three-run homer to Pujols in the fifth that put the Cardinals ahead for good.

Bootcheck (1-1) went two innings and was charged with three runs on two hits.

Trailing 4-3 in the fifth, Eckstein began the inning with a single and moved to second when he beat out a fielder's choice grounder by So Taguchi. Pujols then homered for the second time in the game, putting St. Louis on top 6-4.

The Angels drew within 6-5 in the sixth when Shea Hillenbrand scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Erick Aybar.

Spiezio, though, put the game out of reach in the seventh. With two on and two outs, Spiezio hit his second homer of the season, extending the lead to 9-5.

The Angels scored one more time when Robb Quinlan homered in the ninth, but that was it.

The Angels lost for only the eighth time in 31 games.

After Aaron Miles singled home Juan Encarnacion for a 1-0 lead in the second, the Angels responded with three runs in the third. Chone Figgins singled home the first run of the inning and Cabrera doubled home the final pair for a two- run lead.

Pujols tied it in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer, but the Angels went back in front in the fourth when Mike Napoli singled home Gary Matthews.

Game Notes

Jim Edmonds went 0-for-3 and saw his seven-game hit streak end...Pujols has 15 HRs this season...Quinlan has three HRs...Spiezio's HR ended an 0-for-12 slump...Encarnacion went 1-for-4 and has an 11-game hit streak...Figgins ended 1-for-5 to extend his hit streak to 10 games...Angels' 1B Casey Kotchman missed the game after leaving Saturday's contest with an elbow contusion following being hit by a pitch...Garret Anderson also missed the game. He left Saturday's win with right leg stiffness.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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