Pujols Caps Winning 9th Inning Rally

With two outs in the ninth inning the Cardinals trailed the Pirates 3-1. A few minutes later they were celebrating a 4-3 win. Orlando Palmiero drove in two runs with a single and Albert Pujols got Palmiero across the plate with a game-winning single. Pujols now has 97 RBI’s and increased his batting average to .377. But without Jeff Fassero, the Cardinals’ late-inning heroics might not have added up to a win. Fassero lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and a run. Despite the impressive effort, Fassero didn’t get the win; that went to Cal Eldred, who tossed a perfect ninth inning. The win allowed the Cardinals to remain two and a half games behind the Astros. Reliever Lance Painter had to leave the game with a calf strain. The Cardinals have called up Pedro Borbon, who they signed last week.