PITTSBURGH – Albert Pujols hit two home runs, then caught the warmup tosses when star catcher Yadier Molina made his first pitching appearance to close out the St. Louis Cardinals' 18-4 romp over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Molina gave up a pair of homers and four runs while working the ninth inning, eventually completing the Cardinals' three-game sweep.
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But it was not all fun and games for St. Louis. Starter Steven Matz lasted only four pitches before being pulled with stiffness in his left shoulder.
“Sometimes stuff comes up,” Matz said. “I felt it a little bit in the bullpen. I was trying to work through it a little bit. ... Just try to get through this, get some outs.”
Pujols boosted his career home run count to 683. Pinch-hitting for Nolan Arenado with St. Louis up 11-0 in the fifth inning, Pujols launched a 425-foot drive off the left-field rotunda.
The 42-year-old slugger added a three-run homer in the ninth off Pirates infielder Josh VanMeter in the ninth. Pujols is fifth on the all-time homer list, 13 behind Alex Rodriguez in fourth, and his 32 at PNC Park are the most by an opposing player.
“I'm here to try to help this ball club as much as I can,” Pujols said. “This is not about me. It's never been about me. It's always been about this Cardinals organization and the impact I can make on the players in the organization.”
Exactly a week after Pujols took the mound for the first time in his big league career, Molina got his turn with St. Louis ahead 18-0. Pujols was behind the plate to warm up his longtime teammate between innings.
A perennial All-Star and Gold Glover at catching pitches, the 39-year-old Molina didn't do quite as well throwing them. He gave up a solo homer to Yoshi Tsutsugo and a three-run drive by Jack Suwinski. His velocity topped out at 69 mph.
“I feel like Yadi had more command of his fastball (than Pujols),” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “It didn’t go his way. Missed middle-middle too much.”
Overall, Molina allowed four hits in his one inning, throwing 14 of 20 pitches for strikes, without a strikeout or walk.
Pujols also permitted four runs and two homers in one inning while finishing out a rout of San Francisco last Sunday night. Pujols gave three hits, walked one and struck out none.
Naturally, the two stars poked each other over who threw it best. Both currently have a 36.00 ERA, by the way.
“Mine was better; I didn’t give up a double like he did,” Pujols told St. Louis media.
Retorted Molina: “I didn’t walk anybody.”
Michael Chavis flied out against Molina to end the game.
“I wish it was a real pitcher,” he said. “It was just awkward. But he was having fun on the mound. ... It's fun to see. I'm glad he got to enjoy it. He's a Hall of Famer, so you have to pay your respect and everything. Good for him.”
After Matz exited, Angel Rondón (1-0) entered to strike out Ke’Bryan Hayes with his first pitch. Rondón allowed just one hit in five innings for his first win in the majors, striking out four and walking three.
After being recalled from the taxi squad before the game, Rondón made his third major league appearance and first since June 12, 2021.
“I can't say enough about that performance today,” Matz said. “For him to come in, not even knowing when he was coming in, to throw five innings. It was impressive. That was huge for the team. He picked me up, he picked the team up.”
Highly touted prospect Nolan Gorman doubled in the first, putting the Cardinals ahead with his first major league RBI. He got three hits and went 5 for 10 with two doubles in his first series in the majors.
Tommy Edman also had three of the Cardinals' 20 hits. He hit two doubles and helped key a six-run second against Bryse Wilson (0-3).
Harrison Bader also homered off VanMeter, who made his first pitching appearance in the majors and gave up five runs in the ninth. Usually a second baseman and outfielder, VanMeter was pressed into duty as a catcher for the first time in an emergency situation.
ROSTER MOVE
Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore was optioned to Triple-A Memphis. He gave up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings during his major league debut Saturday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates SS Kevin Newman had a setback while rehabbing a left groin strain with Triple-A Indianapolis. The new injury is in the hamstring area, general manager Ben Cherington said.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (3-2, 1.68) will take the mound Monday as St. Louis heads home for the first of two games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Mikolas has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts this season.
Pirates: RHP JT Brubaker (0-4, 5.50) is expected to start Monday in the first of a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. His most recent win came Aug. 24 of last season.
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