Albert Pujols went 4 for 5 with two home runs including a grand slam that came in an 8 run fourth inning as the Cardinals swept the I-70 series in Kansas City with a 12-5 win. The Cardinals’ victory gave Tony LaRussa 2,500 wins for his career.
Pujols continued to terrorize Royals’ pitching. Down 4-3 in the fourth, the Cardinals would send 13 batters to the plate as the Royals would use three pitchers in the inning. Royals’ starter Gil Meche was charged with nine run in 3.1 innings. He falls to 4-6 on the year.
Adam Wainwright went six innings striking out eight, but he also gave up five runs on eight innings including home runs to David DeJesus and Jose Guillen. Pujols’ two blasts went along with another home run from Khalil Greene, his second in two games.
The Cardinals moved 1.5 games ahead of Milwaukee who lost to Detroit. The Royals are still in fourth place after the Indians were swept by Chicago.