LOS ANGELES (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 700th profession house run on Friday evening, connecting for his 2nd pressure of the sport towards the Los Angeles Dodgers and changing into the fourth participant to achieve the milestone in primary league historical past.
The 42-year-old Pujols hit No. 699 within the 3rd inning, then introduced No. 700 within the fourth at Dodger Stadium.
With the pressure within the ultimate days of his final giant league season, Pujols joined Barry Bonds (762 homers), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) in one in every of baseball’s maximum unique golf equipment.
It’s been a exceptional run for Pujols. This used to be his 14th house run because the get started of August for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, and his twenty first of the season.
Pujols’ historical homer used to be a three-run shot towards Dodgers reliever Phil Bickford. The ball landed within the first few rows of the left-field pavilion, the similar location his two-run shot touched down the former inning off left-hander Andrew Heaney.
Pujols won a chronic status ovation from the group — he completed out final season whilst taking part in for the Dodgers. He took a curtain name, elevating his cap in acknowledgment.
The lovers chanted “Pujols! Pujols!” They in spite of everything sat down after being on their toes in anticipation of seeing historical past.
Pujols snapped a tie with Alex Rodriguez for fourth at the record when he hit profession homer No. 697 towards Pittsburgh on 9/11.
Achieving 700 homers gave the impression of an extended shot for Pujols when he used to be batting .189 on July 4. However the three-time NL MVP began to seek out his stroke in August, swatting seven homers in a single 10-game stretch that helped St. Louis draw back within the department race.
“I do know that early within the yr … I clearly sought after higher effects,” Pujols mentioned after he homered in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 22. “However I felt like I used to be hitting the ball onerous. Now and again this recreation goes to take extra clear of you than the sport (is) providing you with again.
“So I believe on the finish of the day it’s important to be certain and simply keep centered and consider your paintings. That’s one thing that I’ve executed always.”
Pujols has loved a resurgent season after returning to St. Louis in March for a $2.5 million, one-year contract. It’s his best general since he hit 23 homers for the Angels in 2019.
He plans to retire when the season ends.
Pujols additionally started his profession in St. Louis. He used to be decided on through the Cardinals within the thirteenth spherical of the 1999 newbie draft and gained the 2001 NL Rookie of the Yr award.
The Dominican Republic local hit no less than .300 with no less than 30 homers and 100 RBIs in every of his first 10 seasons. He helped the Cardinals to International Collection titles in 2006 and 2011.
He set a profession top with 49 homers in 2006 — one in every of seven seasons with no less than 40 homers. He led the majors with 47 homers in 2009 and crowned the NL with 42 in 2010.
Pujols left St. Louis in loose company in December 2011, signing a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Angels. He used to be waived through the Angels in Would possibly 2021, after which joined the Dodgers and hit 12 homers and drove in 38 runs in 85 video games.