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Blanton teaches Cardinals a lesson

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From the Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols was one of five St. Louis Cardinals who took a called third strike against Joe Blanton. It was a solid indicator that the Phillies’ right-hander was on his game.

Blanton won for the first time since joining Philadelphia in a mid-July trade with the Oakland Athletics, helped by home runs from Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs to a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.

His biggest strikeout froze Pujols with two on to end the third.

“Sometimes as a starter, those at-bats can kind of be the ones that make or break the game,” Blanton said. “I wanted to make tough pitches and hopefully make something good happen.”

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Dobbs, who leads the majors with 20 pinch hits, hit his fourth homer of the season on the first pitch of the third from Braden Looper (10-9).

Howard hit his 31st for his National League-leading 96th RBI with two out in the fourth.

The East Division-leading Phillies have homered in 11 consecutive games, totaling 19, and have won six of seven.

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