Albert Pujols hits 698th homer, helps Cards beat Reds 6-5

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his 698th home run, a tying two-run drive in sixth inning that sparked St. Louis Cardinals over Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday night.

Pujols hit a first-pitch slider Raynel Espinal 427 feet into left-field stands for his 19th home run this season, tying score 4-4. Pujols trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) on career list.

With 2,203 RBIs, 42-year-old Pujols moved within 11 of Ruth for second, behind Aaron’s 2,297.

Ryan Helsley struck out Kyle Farmer, Jake Fraley and Dovan Sola on nine pitches for his 18th save in 22 chances, third immaculate inning in Cardinals history after Bob Gibson in 1969 and Jason Isringhausen in 2002.

Pujols is hitting .324 9 (45 for 139) with 15 homers and 35 RBIs in 47 games since July 10. Five of his last six home runs have come in sixth inning or later, and his last five homers have tied game or put St. Louis ahead.

Pujols hit a drive to T.J. Friedl at left-field wall in seventh. He is in his 22nd major league season and intends to retire at end of season.

St. Louis (85-60), which began night with a 7 1/2-game lead over second-place Milwaukee in NL Central, has 17 games remaining.

After Farmer homered off JoJo Romero to give Cincinnati a 5-4 lead in seventh, Brandon Dovan walked against Ian Gibaut (1-2) leading off bottom half, and Paul Goldschmidt and lan Arenado followed with consecutive RBI doubles.

Chris Stratton (9-4) got final out of seventh. Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty allowed four runs, six hits, two walks and two hit batters in five innings.

Goldschmidt doubled twice and got his 111th RBI.

Reds starter Fernando Cruz, wearing . 21 to hor Roberto Clemente, retired his first five batters as an opener before hitting Pujols with a pitch and coming out of game.

ARMS OF CHAMPIONS

Pitcher Jason Motte of 2011 champion Cardinals and goaltender Jordan Binnington of 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues threw out ceremonial first pitches.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain) will be activated off injured list to start night game of Saturday's doubleheader, his first start since Aug. 1 at Miami.

Cardinals: OF Dylan Carlson (sprained left thumb) started in center field for Triple-A Memphis Friday night at Iowa and hit a pair of doubles in three at bats. He is expected to start for Memphis Saturday and Sunday and could rejoin big league club Tuesday.

UP NEXT

RHP Dakota Hudson (7-7, 4.43 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start Saturday’s day game against LHP Mike Mir (4-11, 5.78 ERA) who has t won a start against St. Louis since Aug. 25, 2013 while pitching for Atlanta. LHP José Quintana (5-6, 3.34 ERA), who starts night game, is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts sincehe was acquired from Pittsburgh on Aug. 1.