The Cincinnati Reds dodged a furious comeback by the St. Louis Cardinals in Albert Pujols’ first start since returning to the disabled list, as the Reds won 9-8 on Ramon Hernandez’s RBI double in the 13th inning.
Pujols played the entire game and went 1-for-6.
The Reds scored five runs in the first inning off Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook, including homers by Chris Heisey and Jay Bruce and a two-run triple by Brandon Phillips. They then tacked on three more runs in the middle innings on homers by Fred Lewis and Scott Rolen.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the sixth and five in the seventh, though, with the last of those coming on an RBI single by Pujols. Jon Jay then tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot.
The two teams then traded zeroes until the 13th inning, when Bruce walked, Drew Stubbs singled, and Ramon Hernandez hit a ground-rule double off Raul Valdez. The Reds left the bases loaded when Paul Janish struck out, but one run was good enough, as the Cardinals couldn’t get to Aroldis Champan in the bottom of the inning.