MLB: St. Louis 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Rick Ankiel belted a two-run homer and Albert Pujols had a solo shot Monday to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chris Carpenter (13-3) picked up his fifth straight win, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over eight innings and the Cardinals won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Casey Blake drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and James Loney had an RBI single for the Dodgers, who lost for the fourth in their last five games.

Charlie Haeger (0-1) went seven innings in his first start of 2009 -- and his second major league start overall -- giving up three runs on five hits to take the loss.

Pujols' homer in the fourth inning was his major league-best 39th homer of the season.

Ryan Franklin picked up his 30th save -- best in the NL.