


Albert Pujols appreciates history. He just doesn't let it overshadow what he considers important. Pujols hit his club-record fourth grand slam of the season and 10th of his career, and Jarrett Hoffpauir drove in the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning with his first career hit as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Friday night.
A 30-minute talk with two coaches and some intense film study helped Todd Wellemeyer rebound impressively from his worst start of the season. On Saturday, the right-hander lasted just 2 1-3 innings, giving up three runs against Minnesota. The half-hour conversation with pitching coach Dave Duncan and bullpen coach Marty Mason and looking at some tapes worked well as Wellemeyer allowed two runs and...
Colby Rasmus got a break when third baseman Pablo Sandoval dropped his foul pop in the 10th inning. Then Bob Howry had to come after the rookie with a full count and Albert Pujols on deck. None of that was on Rasmus' mind when he led off the 10th inning with his first game-ending home run, lifting the St.
The Cardinals' Mark DeRosa has a strained tendon in his left wrist and expects to miss three or four games. St. Louis also said third baseman Troy Glaus will report to its spring training complex to continue therapy in an often troubled rehab from right shoulder surgery in January. The 32-year-old could begin a rehab assignment in a few weeks.
Francisco Liriano pitched so well, his unsightly stats coming into the game must have been a typing mistake. The Minnesota left-hander worked seven strong innings backed by Justin Morneau's three-run, first-inning home run in the Twins' 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Liriano entered 3-8 with a 5.88 ERA but won his second straight starts during a turnaround June, and this...
The Minnesota Twins successfully challenged Albert Pujols the night before. Then they tried it again. Pujols made them pay by lining two-run homers in his first two at-bats Sunday, doing most of the damage against Kevin Slowey in a 5-3 victory on Saturday. His crucial ninth-inning strikeout against Joe Nathan in a two-run loss the previous night was on his mind.