Cardinals Snap Losing Streak

Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer and J.D. Drew added a two-run shot as the St. Louis Cardinals ended a losing streak at four games with an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Andy Benes (5-4) didn’t give up a hit until Todd Helton’s leadoff single in the fifth inning as St. Louis jumped to a 7-0 lead. Benes gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Pujols went two for three with four runs batted in and his second homer in as many games.

Drew, who missed the last two games with flu, didn’t miss a beat in his return, going three for five as the Cardinals ended a five-game losing streak at Coors Field.

Pedro Astacio (5-6) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings to lose for the fourth time in six starts. Jeff Cirillo homered and scored twice for the Rockies.

The game was delayed for about five minutes in the ninth inning when a message went up on the scoreboard announcing that the Colorado Avalanche had won the Stanley Cup. About 15,000 fans immediately left Coors Field to celebrate.

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the first inning on walks to Jim Edmonds and Mark McGwire around Drew’s single, but managed only a run on Pujols’ sacrifice fly.

Drew extended the St. Louis lead to 3-0 in the third with his 20th homer of the year.