Pujols’ 30th Homer Makes History

Albert Pujols became the first player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in each of his first five seasons, helping the St. Louis Cardinals end John Smoltz’ eight-game winning streak with an 11-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night at St. Louis.

Smoltz (12-6) lost for the first time since June 6, yielding five runs and six hits in six innings. He had a 2.05 earned-run average during the streak. He was tied with Cardinal 16-game winner Chris Carpenter for the longest streak in the league.

Pujols hit a two-run shot in the first for his 190th homer since breaking in with the Cardinals in 2001. His total of 160 homers in his first four seasons is second behind Ralph Kiner’s 168 from 1946-49. His five-year total is tied for second with Eddie Mathews, 25 behind Kiner.

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San Diego 6, Washington 5 -- The Padres tied the score, 5-5, in the top of the eighth on Eric Young’s run-scoring single against Gary Majewski, then went ahead by scoring off closer Chad Cordero (2-3), the Nationals’ sixth pitcher.

The loss was Washington’s 13th in a row in one-run games. San Diego improved to 20-11 in such contests, and it was only the West leader’s fifth victory in 48 games when trailing after seven innings.

San Francisco 4, Houston 0 -- Jason Schmidt pitched eight shutout innings at San Francisco, Lance Niekro hit a two-run homer and the Giants handed Andy Pettitte his first loss in nearly seven weeks. Schmidt (8-6) outdueled Pettitte (9-8) to win for the first time in four starts since beating the Dodgers on July 14.

Milwaukee 3, Philadelphia 1 -- The Brewers took advantage of two errors on the same hit in the top of the 10th inning to beat the Phillies. Bill Hall led off with a single. Damian Miller then doubled to right. Right fielder Bobby Abreu was charged with an error on his throw to second baseman Chase Utley, who got the other error when his relay throw bounced into the dugout, allowing Hall and Miller to score.

New York 9, Chicago 5 -- Mike Cameron and Cliff Floyd each had two-run hits during a six-run second inning at Shea Stadium. Despite the return of Nomar Garciaparra and Kerry Wood from injuries, the Cubs dropped below .500 (54-55) for the first time since July 10, when they were 43-44.

Colorado 6, Arizona 4 -- Lance Cormier’s errant throw to third in the top of the ninth inning allowed Garrett Atkins to score the go-ahead run. Atkins led off with a double. Pinch-hitter Eddy Garabito bunted between home plate and the mound. Cormier (7-2) quickly fielded the ball but threw wide to Alex Cintron, allowing Atkins to score.

Florida 5, Cincinnati 1 -- Jason Vargas (2-0), making his sixth appearance and second start since being called up from double-A Carolina on July 14, shut down the league’s highest-scoring team at Cincinnati. He threw six shutout innings before tiring in the seventh.