Cardinals 13, Cubs 5
The host St. Louis Cardinals spotted the Chicago Cubs five first-inning runs, then stormed back to win 13-5 on Saturday.
St. Louis improved to 7-1 against its archrival and goes for the sweep Sunday. Chicago dropped its fifth straight overall.
The Cards scored eight runs in the fifth on just four hits, aided by five walks and an aggressive takeout slide into second by Matt Holliday. Cubs manager Mike Quade was ejected after arguing interference should have been called.
Alfonso Soriano clubbed his 16th homer, a three-run shot, to put Chicago up 5-0 in the first.
Albert Pujols, one day after getting his 2,000 career hit, went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk. It was his 432nd homer, putting him one ahead of Cal Ripken Jr. for 40th place all-time.
David Freese also homered for the second straight day, a two-run shot that made it 12-5. Kyle Lohse (9-7) was the beneficiary of St. Louis' prodigious offense.