Pujols powers Cards past Bonds, Giants
Barry Bonds spent a third day stuck at 714 and watched Albert Pujols hit his 23rd homer of the season.
Bonds went 1 for 4 with an RBI single Tuesday night, and Pujols hit a three-run shot to help Jason Marquis win his third straight start in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 8-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco.
Randy Winn hit a two-run homer in the fifth to pull the Giants to 6-4 and move Marquis into a tie for first place in the league for home runs allowed with 11. San Francisco lost for only the second time in eight games.
Marquis (6-4) allowed six hits in 8 1/3 innings. He had given up two homers to Bonds in six at-bats, and the slugger entered the game 4 for 6 with two walks against the right-hander.
But Marquis kept Bonds in the ballpark this time and got him to ground out in the ninth before Jason Isringhausen got two outs for his 15th save in 17 chances. Isringhausen walked Mike Matheny with the bases loaded, forcing in a run, before retiring pinch-hitter Todd Greene and Kevin Frandsen to end it.
Pujols connected for a three-run shot to left in the first off Matt Morris (3-5), who faced his former team after spending the last nine seasons with St. Louis. Juan Encarnacion drove in three runs with a double and a two-run single as the Cardinals bounced back after losing Monday night’s series opener 9-2.
Scott Rolen had three singles, drove in a run and scored for the Cardinals.
Pujols hit his major league-leading 23rd homer in the Cardinals’ 46th game, while Bonds hit his 23rd in the Giants’ 44th game on May 21, 2001, on the way to hitting 73 and breaking Mark McGwire’s single-season record of 70.
Bonds lined a single to right on a 3-1 pitch in the first after the fans booed Marquis for missing the plate, grounded out to second leading off the fourth inning, then hit a high flyout to right in the sixth.
Clearing the bases
Philadelphia Phillies rookie pitcher Cole Hamels of experienced soreness in the back of his left shoulder while throwing in the outfield and was scratched from his scheduled start today against the Mets. The Phillies will start Jon Lieber in his place. Brett Myers will start against the Mets on Thursday… The New York Yankees activated Gary Sheffield from the disabled list. Right-hander Colter Bean was designated for assignment to make room for Sheffield, who went on the DL May 5 with a sprained left wrist and hand. … The Cincinnati Reds activated outfielder Cody Ross from the 15-day DL and optioned right-hander Mike Burns to Triple-A Louisville. … The Chicago White Sox recalled veteran reliever Jeff Nelson from Triple-A Charlotte. … Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jody Gerut, out all season because of a sore right knee, was shifted to the major league 15-day DL in advance of possible surgery. … The Texas Rangers called up designated hitter Jason Botts from Triple-A Oklahoma and sent down infielder Drew Meyer. … The Detroit Tigers placed designated hitter Dmitri Young on the 15-day DL and purchased the contract of third baseman Jack Hannahan from Triple-A Toledo. … The San Francisco Giants placed right-handed reliever Tim Worrell on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 21, with a pinched nerve in his neck. Right-hander Brian Wilson was called up from Triple-A Fresno to take Worrell’s spot.