Pujols extends HR streak as Cards down Florida

Aug 23, 2007, 3:14 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Albert Pujols homered for the fifth straight game, and Jim Edmonds' two-run homer in the seventh broke a tie game as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Florida Marlins, 6-4, in the second of a three- game set.

Braden Looper scattered four hits and two runs over six-plus innings for the streaking Cardinals, who have won three straight, eight of 10, and 10 of 13 to pull within one game of .500, at 61-62. The Cardinals pulled to within two games of second-place Milwaukee in the NL Central, and remained three games back of first-place Chicago.

Russ Springer (6-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief, and Jason Isringhausen picked up his 25th save. Yadier Molina also homered for the Cardinals.

Scott Olsen (9-11) was ripped for 10 hits and six runs in 6 1/3 innings. Miguel Olivo and Jeremy Hermida both homered for the slumping Marlins, who have dropped eight straight.

Pujols didn't waste any time extending his home run streak, a career-best, as he belted his 30th of the season to left with one on and one out in the first, giving the Cards the early 2-0 lead. Olivo got one of those runs right back, though, with a two-out solo shot to left in the second.

Molina's fourth homer of the season, a solo shot to left with one out in the fifth, put the Cards up 3-1.

The Marlins edged on top with three runs in the seventh. Mike Jacobs' RBI single to center made it a one-run game, and Hermida's two-run blast to right gave Florida a 4-3 lead.

The Cards plated three runs of their own in the home half to go back on top, though. Scott Rolen doubled to left to leadoff the frame, and Molina doubled him in to tie the game. Edmonds then untied it, belting a two-run homer to right-center to put St. Louis on top for good.

Game Notes

Pujols has homered in six of his last seven games, and has a seven-game RBI streak. He is the only player in major league history to hit at least 30 homers in each of his first seven seasons...Hanley Ramirez went 0-for-4, ending his 14-game road hitting streak...On the season, the Marlins are 15-12 when Olsen starts. He is the only current starter that the Marlins have a winning record for.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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