MLB: St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 2

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Albert Pujols boosted his home run total to a major-league leading 38 with his second in as many games Wednesday, helping boost St. Louis past Cincinnati 5-2.

The Cardinals won for the fifth time in six outings and increased their lead over the Chicago Cubs to four games in the National League Central.

St. Louis capitalized on a throwing error by starting pitcher Homer Bailey to score three times in the first. The error came after Bailey had scrambled to pick up a Pujols line drive that hit Bailey in the foot.

Bailey (2-4) left the game without having retired a batter.

Pujols hit his home run in the third to give St. Louis a 4-1 lead. Matt Holliday contributed three of the 10 St. Louis hits.

Chris Carpenter (12-3) picked up the win by going seven innings. He gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out 10.

Ryan Franklin worked the ninth for his 28th save.

Cincinnati has won just five times in its last 22 games.