Pujols hits No. 400, but Cards lose in 13

It was hardly ideal timing for a 400th home run. For Albert Pujols, it happened in the fourth inning of a 13-inning, 11-10 loss to a last-place team — and in a game in which he twisted his ankle trying to climb a rolled-up tarp.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger led off the fourth against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night by sending a 0-1 fastball from starter Jordan Zimmermann into the right-center seats, becoming the 47th major leaguer to reach the milestone.

At 30 years, 222 days, Pujols became the third-youngest player to hit 400 homers. Alex Rodriguez hit No. 400 at 29 years, 316 days, and Ken Griffey Jr. reached the benchmark at 30 years, 141 days.

As soon as he completed his swing, Pujols stood and admired the shot. He was mobbed by teammates when he returned to the dugout after cutting the Nationals' lead to 3-2. He had been tied with Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga for 47th place on baseball's career list.

''It's a special milestone,'' Pujols said, ''but I don't play for numbers.''

Pujols instead spoke of other goals he had as a young baseball fan: to play professional baseball, to play in a World Series and ''maybe one day have the opportunity to be in Cooperstown'' and the Hall of Fame.

Pujols was more concerned about another loss in a slide that has hurt the Cardinals' playoff chances, and about a right ankle that twisted the wrong way when he tried to plant his foot on the tarp to reach for a foul ball near the first base dugout in the 10th inning.

''It's pretty sore right now,'' Pujols said. ''It was pretty scary. I tried to put my right leg on top of the tarp and slipped.''

Pujols stayed in the game, but said he didn't know if would be able to play Friday because the ankle could swell overnight.

''It was never comfortable,'' he said. ''I was sore. I stayed in the game sore. I know it was going to take more than that to take me out of the game. I knew my team needed me out there.''

But it wasn't enough. Ian Desmond singled home Nyjer Morgan in the bottom of the 13th to send Pujols and the Cards to their third straight loss.

''I don't really know what big league playoff baseball feels like — I'm sure the atmosphere is a little bit more hectic — but that was a great-played game by both sides,'' said Desmond, who finished with four hits and three RBIs.

Morgan was hit by a pitch from Blake Hawksworth (4-8) while squaring to bunt leading off the 13th, then advanced to third on Alberto Gonzalez's one-out single. With the infield in, Desmond bounced a grounder up the middle to end the Nationals' four-game losing streak.

The Nationals used eight pitchers, the Cardinals seven, and Washington went through every position player available. There was at least one run scored in every inning from the second through the ninth. The Cardinals scored four in the top of the ninth to take a 10-8 lead, but Roger Bernadina's two-run homer to right-center off Ryan Franklin sent the game to extra innings. At one point, the clock and scoreboard were in sync: It was 10-10 at 10:10.

''That game had all the elements: comebacks from both clubs, timely hitting, good baserunning, good defense,'' Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. ''It had a little bit of everything.''

Doug Slaten (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the Nationals, who broke out of their offensive doldrums with 16 hits. Washington had been shut out three times in the past week.

It all capped what had already been a busy day at Nationals Park, with Washington introducing this year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Bryce Harper, and having an MRI performed on last year's No. 1 overall selection, Stephen Strasburg. His test results are to be released Friday.

For St. Louis, this slide has come at an inopportune time in the playoff race. The Cardinals have lost eight of 11, including a demoralizing two in a row to last-place Pittsburgh before arriving to play last-place Washington.

''We've got to win ballgames, that's what it comes down to,'' starting pitcher Chris Carpenter said. ''It doesn't matter how we do it, whether it's 15-14 or 1-0, we've got to win ballgames, and unfortunately I didn't pitch well enough tonight to give my team a chance.''

Looking to shake things up, Riggleman canceled regular batting practice and had his players hit in the indoor cage instead. He also shuffled the lineup, putting Adam Kennedy at leadoff for the first time this season, moving Morgan to second and Desmond to fifth.

It seemed to pay off. Every player in the starting lineup except the pitcher had at least one hit.

Zimmermann made his first major league start after having elbow ligament replacement surgery 12 months ago. A premier prospect before he got hurt, he allowed five runs and seven hits over four innings.

Carpenter, another pitcher who came back from Tommy John surgery, allowed 10 hits over six innings. He gave up six runs, but only three were earned because of shortstop Felipe Lopez's throwing error in the third.

NOTES: Alex Rodriguez is the youngest player to get to 400 homers, having done so at 29 years, 316 days. Ken Griffey Jr. reached the benchmark at 30 years, 141 days. Pujols reached it at 30 years, 222 days. ... The Nationals said OF Josh Willingham should be recovered in four to six weeks from surgery on his left knee. Willingham had the operation Wednesday and will not play again this season. ... 3B Pedro Feliz has hit safely in all seven games since he was traded to the Cardinals from Houston.