Pujols gets milestone

Albert Pujols became the third player in major league history to drive in 100 runs in each of his first eight seasons when he hit an RBI double in the sixth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.

The only other players to accomplish the feat were Al Simmons, who did it his first 11 seasons, and Ted Williams, who did it in his first eight. Pujols also extended his major league-record streak of 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a season to start a career.

A’s Ellis will miss rest of year

Former Spokane Indians infielder Mark Ellis, of the Oakland Athletics, will miss the rest of the season and could be headed for surgery to fix a shoulder injury that has taken longer to heal than initially expected.

It’s especially disappointing for Ellis considering he can become a free agent after this season. He has spent his first seven years in the big leagues with Oakland, including 2004 when he was sidelined with an injury to the same shoulder.

The 31-year-old Ellis batted .233 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 117 games for the A’s this season.

Cubs-Astros postponed

The first two games of this weekend’s series between the Cubs and Houston Astros have been postponed because of the potential impact of Hurricane Ike.

Baseball officials also were anticipating that Sunday’s series finale also might be postponed. One of the scenarios under consideration was to play a doubleheader Monday, and make up the third game on Sept. 29 if it’s needed to decide a playoff berth. The Cubs and Astros have no common off days after Monday.

Brewers’ Kapler tears muscle

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Gabe Kapler has a torn muscle in his right shoulder and could miss the rest of the season.

Kapler will stay in Milwaukee and undergo physical therapy with the team in an effort to determine whether he can return this year.

The team said that Kapler is hopeful he can return this year, but gave no timetable for his recovery.

He left Wednesday’s game after making a hard throw to the plate in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds.

With the Reds leading 3-1, Kapler’s throw kept Edwin Encarnacion from attempting to score on Jay Bruce’s single, but Kapler, in the lineup for struggling All-Star Corey Hart, immediately winced in pain and grabbed for his shoulder.

Milwaukee went on to rally for a 4-3 win, thanks in part to Kapler’s effort.

Kapler, who retired from baseball for a year because of injuries and became a manager, is hitting .301 with eight homers and 38 RBIs in 229 at-bats this season after signing as a free agent.

A.L. highlights

Blue Jays 6, White Sox 4: At Chicago, Shaun Marcum pitched effectively for 71/3 innings and Toronto broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the eighth in beating the White Sox for its 11th win in 12 games.

Chicago, which has dropped four of five, remained one game ahead of the Twins in the Central. Minnesota lost to Kansas City 3-2.

Toronto began the night seven games behind Boston in the wild-card chase.

N.L. highlights

Phillies 6, Brewers 3: At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 43rd homer, Jamie Moyer pitched 52/3 effective innings and the Phillies beat Milwaukee to gain ground in the playoff race.

The Phillies pulled within three games of the East-leading Mets and the wild card-leading Brewers by roughing up Ben Sheets (13-8). They remain four behind New York in the loss column.

Prince Fielder hit his first homer since Aug. 13, but slumping Milwaukee lost for the eighth time in 11 games.

Moyer allowed three runs and four hits, improving to 7-1 in his last 13 starts.

Astros 6, Pirates 0: At Houston, Roy Oswalt threw his second straight complete-game shutout, helping the Astros gain ground in the playoff chase with a win over Pittsburgh.

Houston pulled within three games of wild card-leading Milwaukee.

Oswalt retired 20 in a row after Luis Rivas’ one-out single in the first inning on his way to winning for the ninth time in 10 decisions.

Cubs 3, Cardinals 2: At St. Louis, Rich Harden worked six solid innings and Kerry Wood got Albert Pujols to pop up with two men on for the final out in a victory over the Cardinals. Chicago leads Milwaukee by 51/2 games in the Central.