Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Cardinals 3, Padres 1
SAN DIEGO — Albert Pujols hit his first homer in 106 at-bats to end the longest drought of his career and the Cardinals scored two runs off Heath Bell in the ninth, winning for the seventh time in eight games. The Padres have lost six of seven, and their 8-19 home record is the worst in the NL. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was ejected by plate umpire Jim Joyce after Pujols took a called third strike in the eighth. Pujols jumped in frustration after the 3-and-2 strike.