Pujols, Cards top Pirates to end 3-game skid

Albert Pujols might have been a bit weary after a 4-hour photo shoot for the All-Star Game home run derby earlier in the day. Nope. A few hours later he went deep on his first swing.

Pujols hit his fourth homer in five games to launch a 4-for-4 performance and Chris Duncan's two-run triple in the fourth inning was the go-ahead hit as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 to snap a three-game losing streak Wednesday night.