Pujols ends long drought HR, maps of beat Pads

 A ball left the yard and the other did not, both providing highlights for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Albert Pujols hit his first homer in 106 at - bats to end the longest drought of his career and Cardinals Central NL-leading scored two races off the coast of Heath Bell in the ninth to beat the San Diego Padres difficulty 3-1 Monday nighttheir seventh victory in eight games.

Colby Rasmus stolen his former teammate Ryan Ludwick circuit at the end of the first channel, providing an another frustrating moment of Petco Park for the Padres, who have lost six of seven and dropped to 8-19 at homethe worst mark in the NL.

Pujols came into the game without a homer - in 103 at bats. It leaked out of the warning track in the field centre in his first, and then it leaked out of centre-right in his second y.

He did not miss his next, driving a 1-2 of Dustin Moseley field in the first line in the left field on a bond of despair by Ludwick for an advance of 1-0 with one out in the sixth. It was his eighth.

Pujols has seven homers in 88 at - bats at Petco Park and five homers in his last 11 matches at San Diego.

"A run", said manager Tony La Russa. "You know what that had more value? This is the worst ball strikes it. You look at, it is making contact like that. He no doubt not the first 10 days of the season. After that, contact is made. It just keeps hitting it hard. They're tongue him as he is frapper.350, therefore, to bat s a difficult for him. ?

Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals points to the sky as it crosses the plate after his solo home run against the San Diego padres in the sixth round of a baseball game Monday, 23 May 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) Close

San Diego catcher Rob Johnson said that it was not a bad field. "It could not be ideal, but that is why it is a good player," Johnson said. "" "". "You should be careful with him."

La Russa was ejected by umpire Jim flat, Joyce after Pujols took a third strike called for the second of the eighth round.

Pujols took a step toward first base after 3-2 Mike Adams to his knees, then transformed pitch and jumped in frustration after that Joyce fists. La Russa came out to obtain the slugger and as it turned to the pond, said something to Joyce and ejected.

It was La Russa eighth game back since missing six games to be treated for shingles.

"It is not even useful to speak of", said La Russa. "I just went out there to save Albert.". We need him in the game. I ran over there. I said, him, "Hey, you're better than this. I have known Jim long. He said: "you are here;" You can not say anything. "I said," it is quite tame. " "It is the umpire. If I was the umpire, I probably would have thrown me, too. ?

Rasmus made a great grab leaping flying Ludwick of a circuit to $ field centre for the final of the first. Second round Ludwick and fixed Rasmus, his former teammate in St. Louis, as saying: "you're kidding?".

"I just read it off the coast of the bat, ran back, in view of the wall and jumped and it took." Not much thinking about it. Just instincts. ?

Rasmus show the ball or keep it. He ran just off the field.

"It was a little weird." Everyone was looking for me and I wasn't really think showing the ball. No one could say, I suppose. Luddy was just look me down. I felt kind of bad. In my view, it show me the same respect and try to steal an if I hit, too. It would not let go. ?

The Launcher winner Kyle Lohse said: "this was a just big pick-up for Colby, a game where changer." He did an excellent job, and after that I was going to hang cursors too. ?