Cardinals Hate to See April End

Batting behind Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds knows he’s in a good spot.

The Washington Nationals walked Pujols four times, and Edmonds made them pay by driving in three runs in a 9-2 victory Sunday at St. Louis that completed the Cardinals’ record-setting April.

Edmonds, batting .213 after going two for five, expects to get more chances as teams pitch around Pujols.

“Eventually you have to come through,” he said. “If they want to walk Albert all year long, I’ll be happy to hit behind him.”

St. Louis finished April 17-8, topping the previous franchise mark for April wins, set with a 15-7 record last year. Tied with the Reds for the NL Central lead heading into a two-game series that starts today in Cincinnati, the Cardinals were 8-2 on their winningest 10-game homestand since taking eight of 10 from Sept. 20 to 29, 2002.

Milwaukee 9, Chicago 0 -- Carlos Lee hit his 10th homer to set a Brewers’ record for April, and Chris Capuano pitched a five-hitter at Chicago for the first complete game of his career.

Taking advantage of a strong wind blowing out to left, Lee connected in the second inning against Carlos Zambrano (0-2). Rob Deer (1987) and Geoff Jenkins (2000 and 2001) each hit nine homers in April for the Brewers.

Arizona 8, San Francisco 2 -- Johnny Estrada was four for four with a two-run homer and four runs batted in at San Francisco.

Barry Bonds doubled in a run for his 1,357th extra-base hit, moving past Babe Ruth and into sole possession of third place. Stan Musial is next at 1,377, and Hank Aaron is the leader with 1,477.

Atlanta 8, New York 5 -- Jeff Francoeur homered and had a career-high five RBIs at Atlanta as the Braves ended a five-game losing streak.

Atlanta dropped three straight in Milwaukee last week and was on the verge of its first consecutive sweeps, in series of at least three games, since 1985.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 1 -- Pat Burrell drove in two runs with a home run and a double to support Gavin Floyd, and the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh.

Colorado 3, Florida 1 -- Byung-Hyun Kim struck out a career-high nine at Miami in his first start of the season, and the Rockies completed a three-game sweep.

The last-place Marlins were 6-16 in April for a .273 winning percentage, their third-worst ever.

Houston 3, Cincinnati 2 -- Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer at Cincinnati, and rookie Taylor Buchholz earned his second consecutive win.