Albert Pujols hit his National League leading 42nd home run of the season as the Cardinals jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the Chicago Cubs only to see them rally to within a run, before the Cardinals held off an eighth inning rally for the 8-7 win.
The Cardinals scored four in the first and four in the fifth inning off Cubs starter Jeff Samardizja who picked up his first win of the year earlier this month in St. Louis.
The Cubs scored five runs off Jake Westbrook, three of those earned before adding two more runs in the seventh thanks to an error by Colby Rasmus. In the eighth, the Cubs had two runners on, but Ryan Franklin got Xavier Nady to fly out to end the inning.
Albert Pujols hit a three run homer in the first and catcher Matt Pagnozzi added three RBIs as well.
Cincinnati beat San Diego to get their magic number to one in the National League Central Division.
