Albert Pujols hits HR No. 697 to overtake A-Rod for career home runs as Cardinals beat Pirates

Albert Pujols hits HR No. 697 to overtake A-Rod for career home runs as Cardinals beat Pirates
The Dominican slugger’s two-run generate at the top of the 9th moved him to fourth on the checklist, and he’s now only behind stories Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Provides (762) in all-time Mlb house runs.
Pujols will now have got his sights arranged on joining the illustrious 700 house run club, yet he only provides 21 games remaining to reach the landmark after announcing that this would be the final season in his storied career.
The two-time World Collection champion is insistent that, if this individual doesn’t hit the 700 milestone, expense affect his decision to finish his 22-year career at the end of the growing season.
Within July, he told USA Today, “I’m still going to stop working, no matter whether I find yourself hitting 693, 696, 700, whatever, I actually don’t get caught up in numbers. If you were going to tell me twenty two years ago that I will be this close, I might have told you that you are freakin’ crazy. Our career has been incredible. ”
Pujols rejoined the Cardinals in March after 11 years away from the team.

Just a couple months ago, striking the 700-mark seemed unlikely; Pujols had a gradual start to the regular season after re-joining the team he began his Major League Baseball career with.
The first baseman only managed two house runs in 04 and May and failed to register a single house run in 06. But he has since picked up the speed, hitting 12 home runs since the All-Star break in July.
Pujols’ resurgence has noticed the three-time National League MVP enjoy one of his best seasons in recent years. The particular 42-year-old is striking. 266/. 338/. 528 with 48 RBI in 91 games and has. 866 OPERATIONS, form which he has not seen given that his first stint in St . Louis.
Pujols is hoping to win his third World Series in his final season.

As ever, Pujols is not one to be caught up in his own achievements. When the enthusiasts who caught his 9th-inning bomb tried to return the golf ball, he refused and instead gifted the particular couple two a lot more signed balls.
“It’s only a baseball. They getting it. It went out of the ballpark, ” Pujols told MLB. com. “We enjoy this game for that fans. So whether or not they want to give it back again or they want to retain it, I don’t have any issue with that. I think it means for that girl greater than me having it in my trophy situation. ”
The triumph leaves Pujols’ Cardinals top of the NL Main with an 83-58 record, a month before the end of the regular time of year. The Cardinals visit Milwaukee to face the second-place Brewers on Wednesday.