Albert Pujols became just the 7 th player in major league history to have 30 home runs before July 1 st . Last night he hit a solo homer in the fourth and a two run shot in the 6 th off Giants starter Randy Johnson, but the Cardinals still lose 6-3. (Photo courtesy of Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter falls to 5-3 on the season after he allowed all six runs on 11 hits in five innings. I think we’ve been spoiled by Carpenter. The four runs he gave up in the fifth were more than what he’s given up in any of his last 10 previous starts. Manager Tony LaRussa said all the hits off of Carpenter weren’t hard, they just hit them in the right spot, but Carpenter is not about to make excuses as you’ll hear below.
Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez were the last players to have 30 HRs by July 1 st back in 2001. Pujols has hit at least 30 home runs in each of his nine Major League seasons, extending his record for consecutive 30-homer seasons to start a career. Pujols launched two deep homers off of Johnson, now his fourth and fifth off the future hall of famer. Pujols is 11 for 24 life time against the Big Unit.
More bad news for the Cardinals. Newly acquired Mark DeRosa injured his left wrist while swinging and missing Randy Johnson’s changeup before striking out during his second at bat in the fourth. He hit off a tee indoors the next inning and later said it didn’t feel right. He’ll have a test done today. LaRussa thinks it may be sprained. DeRosa was 0 for 9 with St. Louis so far.
