Albert Pujols was a triple shy of the cycle last night in the Cardinals 6-2 win over Washington.   Chris Duncan and Ryan Ludwick also went deep off DC starter Jordan Zimmeram.  Joe Thurston added his first major league home run in the 7th.

Cardinals’ starter Todd Wellemeyer earned his second win of the year going seven innings.  The Nationals finally got on board with both runs in the seventh, but up to that point Wellemeyer was pretty sharp.  He allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out three.

Wellemeyer had plenty of power to back him up.  For the second game in a row, Albert Pujols homered in the first inning off Zimmerman who suffered his first loss of the year.  Chris Duncan hit his third homer of the year in the fourth after Pujols doubled to lead off the inning.  Zimmerman got hurt by the long ball again in the sixth when Ryan Ludwick hit his sixth of the year to centerfield with one out, again after Pujols reached on a single.

In the seventh, Joe Thurston is making the most of his time on his first big league roster.  He added more than enough insurance for Wellemeyer when he hit a solo shot to right field to put the Cardinals up 6-0.