Baseball

Pujols deepens Cubs' hole

By Times Staff Writer
Published July 21, 2004

CHICAGO - Albert Pujols' third homer on a testy Tuesday at Wrigley Field brought the Cardinals all the way back and sent the Cubs to a crushing defeat.

"It was the first time I've hit three home runs and it came at the right time," Pujols said after his shot in the ninth helped the Cardinals to an 11-8 comeback victory.

"It's one of those days you never forget."

Pujols went 5-for-5 with a double and five RBIs, helping St. Louis rally from a six-run deficit in the final meeting of the season between the heated rivals. The Cardinals left town with a 10-game lead over the third-place Cubs in the Central.

"I take every game like it's the last game of the World Series, but this is extra special right here," Pujols said. "You're playing against your rival. I don't think we ever thought we were going to have a lead like this."

A day after the teams nearly scuffled, there was more trouble. St. Louis starter Matt Morris threw a fastball behind Corey Patterson in the first, prompting a warning to both benches from plate umpire Tim Tschida.

Cubs reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who gave up Pujols' go-ahead homer, was ejected after he started yelling at Tschida as he walked toward the dugout in the middle of the ninth.

An angry Hawkins had to be restrained by manager Dusty Baker and several Cubs coaches from going at Tschida before he was forced into the Chicago dugout.

"Do I regret it? No," Hawkins said, adding that he and Tschida have a feud dating back two years.

"I talked to him like a man at first, and it didn't work. You think I'm going to hit him? I'm not going to hit him."

In 2002 when Hawkins was with the Twins, Tschida ejected him from a game in a disagreement over the positioning of the reliever's chair in the bullpen.

"I didn't curse at him, didn't yell at him. I just asked him a question plain and simple," Hawkins said of Tuesday's run-in.

Tschida said the previous disagreement had no bearing on their argument Tuesday over the location of pitches in the ninth.

"I would say his imagination is a little fertile," Tschida said. "I never in my life felt threatened or scared on the field, and today is no exception."

After Pujols hit a two-run drive off Hawkins on a hit-and-run play, Reggie Sanders homered in the three-run ninth as St. Louis roared back after trailing 7-1.

"The best thing about Albert in a very long list of great things is that he plays the game to win," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "That's what I admire most. Nothing else is a close second."

Jason Isringhausen got three outs for his 24th save in 28 chances, retiring Aramis Ramirez on a shallow fly with the bases loaded to end it.

[Last modified July 20, 2004, 23:14:16]