SAN FRANCISCO, May 24 (UPI) -- St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit his 23rd home run of the year, a 3-run, first-inning shot that sent the Cardinals to an 8-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The Cardinals also got three RBI Tuesday from Juan Encarnacion in winning for the sixth time in seven games. St. Louis starter Jason Marquis (6-4) gave up five runs, but was well supported by Pujols and Encarnacion to get the win while Jason Isringhausen picked up his 15th save.
San Francisco starter Matt Morris (3-5) allowed singles to David Eckstein and Scott Spiezio to open the game and Pujols then drove a 2-0 pitch over the left-field wall and the Cardinals were never caught.
The Giants scored twice in the bottom of the first with a run-scoring triple from Steve Finley, who scored on a Barry Bonds single. But Encarnacion had a two-out run-scoring double in the St. Louis third and the Cardinals made the score 6-2 in the fifth with a 2-run Encarnacion single.
San Francisco scored in its fifth on a 2-run home run from Randy Winn, runs offset by run-scoring rallies in the St. Louis seventh and eighth innings. The final Giants' run scored in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk.
