Astros C Martin Maldonado used illegal bat in Game 1 of World Series, per report
It might not have raised an eyebrow if a non-Houston Astros player had done it, but a Houston Astros player did it, and now we're talking about it. Martin Maldonado reached out to Albert Pujols before the start of the World Series and asked Pujols to send him some bats -- and today, a half-dozen arrived from the future HOFer. It was a model that he obtained from Albert Pujols, and he used it because he thought it was very similar in size and weight to his own model. So Albert Pujols could use that bat but Maldonado, who began his major league career in 2011, was not legally able to use that bat." Awkward, given the Astros' recent history in the World Series.
wftv.comAstros' Maldonado forced to change bats from outdated model
Maldonado went 1 for 3 with an RBI single in Game 1, a 6-5 Houston loss in 10 innings to Philadelphia. The bat he used in that game — a Marucci AP5 — was an Albert Pujols model. As part of the move, players already in the majors and using bigger bats could continue to swing them. Maldonado made his big league debut in 2011 and therefore couldn't use any of the bats that had been grandfathered in. MLB didn't find Maldonado had any competitive advantage using the Pujols model, and it appeared the mix-up was an honest mistake.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols wraps up his illustrious MLB career
11 years ago, our late colleague Bob Simon described St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols as "one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived." Pujols, an 11-time All-Star who hit 703 home runs, is retiring after this season.
cbsnews.comCardinals icons Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina earned baseball's ultimate win: Walking off in their own time
Maybe it’s appropriate that Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina took their final bows in baseball’s last season without a clock. The duo won the World Series together twice, made a combined 21 All-Star Games, and earned 11 Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Numbers of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina will echo through timeThe sterling statistical records Pujols and Molina accumulated will settle now — oxidize into distinct patinas on their bronze, Cooperstown-worthy careers. How Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina defied baseball’s odds“There’s just so much magic with Albert and Yadi,” fellow iconic Cardinals 40-something Adam Wainwright said after the game. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina know that as well as anyone.
wftv.comCardinals face future without Pujols, Molina wearing red
ST. LOUIS — (AP) — Magic was happening on a chilly Saturday night in St. Louis, where the Cardinals were trailing the Philadelphia Phillies in a do-or-die Game 2 of their National League wild-card series, and Albert Pujols was stepping up to the plate. The Cardinals failed to push across the run in the eighth inning, though, when MVP candidates Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado struck out. “It was a great season,” Molina said. “I mean, a great season, for everybody here in the clubhouse, for all the moments, the memories — the good memories. Young shortstop Masyn Winn and right-hander Gordon Graceffo, who are also highly thought of in the St. Louis system, are probably another year away from the big leagues.
wftv.comPhillies hold off Cardinals 2-0 to sweep NL wild-card series
ST. LOUIS — (AP) — Aaron Nola pitched pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, Bryce Harper's homer gave Philadelphia an early lead, and the Phillies held off the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Saturday night to sweep their National League wild-card series. Nola struck out six and walked one on 101 pitches before leaving with two outs in the seventh. The Cardinals made one finally charge off Zach Eflin in the ninth, getting consecutive two-out singles from Corey Dickerson and Molina. They'll face a familiar foe, the NL East champion Braves, when their division series begins Tuesday night in Atlanta. Miles Mikolas allowed two runs and two hits for St Louis before leaving with two outs in the fifth.
wftv.comPhillies' 6-run ninth tops Cardinals in 6-3 wild-card win
The Phillies scored six times in the ninth inning off the stingy St. Louis bullpen, highlighted by a bases-loaded single by Jean Segura, and Philadelphia beat the NL Central champion Cardinals 6-3 in the opening game of their National League wild-card series.
MLB's postseason is here: A guide to the 12-team playoffs
The postseason begins with a field of 12 teams — up from last year's 10 — and includes a best-of-three format for the opening wild-card round. The expanded postseason has produced some spicy early postseason matchups. The division series will be best-of-five, while the league championship series and World Series will be best-of-seven. Six teams each from the American League and National League qualified for the postseason, including the three division winners in each league. The three wild-card teams in each league are the teams with the best record that didn't win their division.
wftv.comMLB crowds jump from '21, still below pre-pandemic levels
The 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball with 3.86 million fans flocking to Dodger Stadium for an average of 47,672 per contest. The St. Louis Cardinals finished second, drawing 3.32 million fans. They were followed by the Cardinals, Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers, and Mets, which all drew more than a million fans more than in 2021. Only the Rangers started the 2021 season at full capacity and all 30 teams weren’t at 100% until July. This year's 64.6 million fans is the fewest in a non-COVID-19 season since the sport expanded to 30 teams in 1998.
wftv.comMLB playoff picture all set, best-of-3 matchups start Friday
All of a sudden, the entire Major League Baseball playoff picture came into focus Tuesday night. The Mets' bid to win the NL East ended when they were eliminated by the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, so New York wound up as the top NL wild-card team. “It is about going out there and enjoying the moment.”At Busch Stadium, soon-to-be retired St. Louis stars Yadier Molina and Pujols host Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies. The team hasn't won the World Series since 1948. Ronald Acuña Jr., injured last fall when the Braves won the World Series, will start at home against the St. Louis-Philadelphia winner.
wftv.comPujols hits 703rd HR to pass Babe for 2nd in RBI; Cards lose
The 42-year-old slugger connected off right-hander Mitch Keller, pulling a two-run shot into the left-field stands to snap a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. It was Pujols’ 35th career home run at PNC Park, his most at any visiting ballpark. Before the game, the Cardinals signed Gallegos to a two-year contract worth $11 million that runs through 2024. Bryan Reynolds doubled home a run in the sixth and Jack Suwinski homered off Andre Pallante in the eighth. Pirates: Had not announced a starter, though RHP JT Brubaker (3-11, 4.58) could be activated from the injured list.
wftv.comPujols hits 703rd HR to pass Babe for 2nd in RBI; Cards lose
Albert Pujols hit his 703rd home run, breaking a tie with Babe Ruth for second place in career RBIs, but the St. Louis Cardinals lost to Pittsburgh 3-2 when the Pirates drew four consecutive walks in the ninth inning to force home the winning run.
Albert Pujols passes Babe Ruth on all-time RBI list with home run No. 703
The St. Louis Cardinals slugger who became the fourth member of the 700-home run club in September hit No. The home run secured his 2,215th and 2,216th career RBI, moving him past Babe Ruth for sole possession of second place on the all-time list. And he'll fall a few short of catching Ruth on the all-time home runs list. Ruth stands in third place behind Barry Bonds and Aaron with 714 career home runs. He's also experienced a career revival with his highest home run total (24) since 2016 on a playoff-bound Cardinals team.
wftv.comPujols hits 703rd home run, passes Babe Ruth for 2nd in RBIs
PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his 703rd home run Monday night, breaking a tie with Babe Ruth for second place in career RBIs. It was Pujols' 35th career home run at PNC Park, his most at any visiting ballpark. The drive gave Pujols 2,216 RBIs, passing Ruth on the all-time list. Pujols has 24 home runs this season and is one of four players in major league history with 700, joining Barry Bonds (762), Aaron (755) and Ruth (714). Pujols had been hitless in eight career at-bats against Keller.
wftv.comPujols hits 702nd HR, ties Ruth in RBIs, Cardinals lose 7-5
ST. LOUIS — (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his 702nd career home run and tied Babe Ruth for second on the all-time RBI on Sunday, but the Pittsburgh Pirates took the game from the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5. Pujols is fourth on the all-time home run list behind Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762). He's also now tied with Ruth for second in RBI (2,214) behind Aaron (2,297). Molina, Pujols and Wainwright were all removed from the game together so they could walk off as a trio with two outs in the fifth. TRAINER’S ROOMPirates: C Tyler Heineman was activated from the 7-day Injured List list before the game.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols hits home run No. 702 in final regular season game at Busch Stadium
The longtime St. Louis Cardinals star, in his final regular season home game before retirement, drilled a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Pujols’ solo shot came off Roansy Contreras in the third inning, and tied the game up 4-4. In his final regular season home game, Albert Pujols goes deep. pic.twitter.com/S1tBim507J — MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2022The Machine's home run swing for the 702nd time. Pujols will almost certainly finish fourth on the home run list barring a deep, and dominant, postseason run for the Cardinals.
wftv.comCardinals slugger Albert Pujols hits 702nd homer
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 702nd career homer in the third inning of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pujols drove a 0-1 pitch from Roansy Contreras deep to center for a solo shot. The 42-year-old Pujols is fourth on the career home run list behind Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762).
news.yahoo.comPujols, Dickerson help Cardinals rout Pirates 13-3
Albert Pujols hit a two-run single and Corey Dickerson had a grand slam in a six-run first inning to help the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-3 on Saturday night. Pujols singled to left with the bases loaded in the first inning driving in Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead. The 42-year-old Pujols, retiring after the season, hit his 701st homer a night earlier.
news.yahoo.comPujols hits 701st career home run, connects for Cardinals
ST. LOUIS — (AP) — Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 701st home run, connecting Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pujols launched a slider from former teammate Johan Oviedo over the Big Mac Land sign in left field at Busch Stadium. Pujols faced Oviedo for the first time and made the 24-year-old righty the 456th different pitcher he's homered against. Pujols hit his 22nd home run this season for the NL Central champion Cardinals. Pujols is fourth on the career home run list behind Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).
wftv.comPujols hits 701st career home run, connects for Cardinals
Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 701st home run, connecting Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pujols launched a slider from former teammate Johan Oviedo over the Big Mac Land sign in left field at Busch Stadium. Pujols faced Oviedo for the first time and made the 24-year-old righty the 456th different pitcher he's homered against.
news.yahoo.comAaron Judge's 61st HR another murky milestone for MLB
The New York Yankees slugger had just tied Roger Maris for the American League, and what some fans consider the “real,” single-season home run record. Roger Maris Jr. — who was in attendance in Toronto on Wednesday — is one of them, saying it's Judge who is the real home run king. "I mean, that's really who he is if he hits 62, and I think that's what needs to happen. "I think baseball needs to look at the records and I think baseball should do something.”That's probably not going to happen. Maris' record had an asterisk attached to it for 30 years because he played a 162-game schedule instead of 154 like Babe Ruth did when he hit 60.
wftv.comAaron Judge's 61st HR another murky milestone for MLB
Aaron Judge's homers almost always impress, and No. 61 on Wednesday night was no exception — a laser-beam shot that landed in the Blue Jays bullpen amidst huge cheers from the crowd in Toronto. Baseball history was made and the joy was palpable. The New York Yankees slugger had just tied Roger Maris for the American League, and what some fans consider the “real,” single-season home run record.
news.yahoo.comCardinals clinch NL Central title by beating Brewers 6-2
MILWAUKEE — (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals clinched the NL Central title Tuesday night by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 behind six strong innings from Miles Mikolas. This marks the third straight year the Cardinals have wrapped up a postseason spot with a victory over the Brewers. The Brewers remain 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the final NL wild card. St. Louis trailed Milwaukee in the NL Central standings for much of the season and was four games back on the morning of July 31. Tuesday's clincher didn't feature much suspense as St. Louis scored the first six runs to delight the large contingent of Cardinals fans at American Family Field.
wftv.comMLB playoff primer: Things to know as postseason nears
Major League Baseball’s postseason has a little more heft this season. An expanded postseason could lead to some spicy early postseason matchups. The division series will be best-of-five, while the league championship series and World Series will be best-of-seven. Six teams each from the American League and National League will qualify for the postseason, including the three division winners in each league. The three wild-card teams in each league will be the teams with the best record that didn't win their division.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols isn't mad at fan for keeping his 700th home run ball
Unlike the fan who caught Aaron Judge's 60th home run, the person who caught Pujols' home run Friday night reportedly left the stadium with the ball after it was authenticated by officials. Pujols, though, wasn't frustrated, upset or worried about not getting the ball back after his historic night. It's a pretty tempered response from Pujols, who became just the fourth player in MLB history to reach 700 home runs. Pujols also ranks third in MLB history in RBIs behind Aaron and Ruth. While the fan left with the ball, there is still a chance he could give it back to Pujols in exchange for something.
wftv.comWeek 5: Football Friday Night on 9
ORLANDO, Fla. — High school football is back in full swing as we enter week five of the season. For the first time this season, we had clear skies under the Friday night lights as teams battled it out on the gridiron. Photos: Albert Pujols hits 700th home run, joins baseball legends Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe RuthCheck out all the highlights from week four, including our McCoy Federal Credit Union game of the week featuring undefeated Edgewater playing Apopka High school. Read: College Football returns to WFTV Channel 9You can watch WFTV Football Friday Night presented by McCoy Federal Credit Union every Friday night after WFTV Tonight at 11:30 p.m.Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ©2022 Cox Media Group
wftv.comCards' Pujols hits 700th home run, 4th player to reach mark
“This is like the Mount Rushmore of sluggers, so to reach that 700-home run mark, it’s remarkable,” Roberts said. Showing the pop from his younger, dominant days, Pujols hit No. Lars Nootbaar, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson also homered for St. Louis. Pujols has enjoyed a productive season after returning to St. Louis in March for a $2.5 million, one-year contract. Pujols left St. Louis in free agency in December 2011, signing a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Angels.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols hits 700th home run, joins baseball legends Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth
>> Read more trending newsAccording to The Associated Press, only three other baseball legends have made the 700 home run club — Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. Pujols, 42, has said that this season is his final one after playing for 22 years, according to Major League Baseball. According to the MLB, Bonds hit 762 home runs, Aaron hit 755 home runs and Ruth hit 714. MLB reported that Pujols and Aaron are the only two players with at least 3,000 hits and 700 home runs. Pujols is also the most “prolific Dominican hitter” in baseball history, also becoming the first Dominican to hit 700 home runs, according to the Washington Post.
wftv.comCards' Pujols hits 700th career home run, 4th to reach mark
The 42-year-old Pujols hit No. This was his 14th home run since the start of August for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, and his 21st of the season. Pujols snapped a tie with Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the list when he hit career homer No. Pujols also began his career in St. Louis. Pujols left St. Louis in free agency in December 2011, signing a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Angels.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols reaches MLB's exclusive 700-homer club with 2-HR game vs. Dodgers
Albert Pujols rejuvenated his career at Dodger Stadium last season. The legendary St. Louis Cardinals first baseman hit one home run, then another against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday to join MLB's exclusive 700-homer club. The first homer came in the third-inning against Dodgers starter Andrew Heaney, a no-doubter to left field that traveled 434 feet. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to pull the left-handed Heaney for the right-handed Phil Bickford, but the platoon advantage didn't matter. Pujols bashed another ball to left field and entered a club that once felt impossible.
wftv.comCards star Pujols hits 699th career HR, connects vs Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his 699th career home run on Friday night, continuing his remarkable run toward history in his final season. The 42-year-old St. Louis Cardinals slugger went deep to the left-field pavilion off Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Andrew Heaney on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the third inning. Pujols received a standing ovation from the crowd at Dodger Stadium. Pujols is trying to become the fourth major leaguer to reach 700 homers, following Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714). Pujols hit his 20th home run of the year, including 13 since the start of August.
wftv.comAlbert Pujols hits homer No. 699, one shy of joining exclusive 700 club
Albert Pujols is on the precipice of once felt like a longshot, the exclusive MLB 700-home run club. 6⃣9⃣9⃣pic.twitter.com/1gtM8Tiy7l — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 24, 2022The home run is Pujols' 20th of the season and his 13th since Aug. 10. Albert Pujols climbing toward 700-homer clubThe year Pujols debuted in MLB, Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs on his way to summiting MLB's career homer leaderboard. "I'm still going to retire, no matter whether I end up hitting 693, 696, 700, whatever,'' Pujols told USA Today in August. Postseason homers don't count toward MLB's career leaderboards, but Pujols' place on the October-specific homer leaderboard might feel familiar.
wftv.comGames involving Judge, Pujols only available on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has exclusive coverage of both games as part of its “Friday Night Baseball” package. Fans can access both games Friday night on Apple TV+ for free and without the need for a subscription. The Apple TV app is on all Apple devices and can also be accessed on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and cable boxes. Pujols' St. Louis Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pujols played most of last season with the Dodgers after being released by the Los Angeles Angels.
wftv.comDonovan's grand slam carries Cardinals over Padres 5-4
SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Brendan Donovan hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to lead Albert Pujols and the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, snapping a three-game losing streak. The next stop in his pursuit of the 700-homer club is Dodger Stadium, where the Cardinals open a three-game series on Friday. Manny Machado hit his 30th homer for the Padres, who had won five in a row. Kawhi Leonard, who played two seasons at San Diego State, attended a game with his family earlier in the season. UP NEXTCardinals: LHP José Quintana (5-6, 3.16 ERA) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
wftv.comSnell brilliant for 7, Padres beat Pujols, Cardinals 1-0
SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Blake Snell held St. Louis hitless until Albert Pujols beat the shift for a single with two outs in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres beat the NL Central-leading Cardinals 1-0 on Wednesday night. The left-hander's brilliant effort carried the Padres to their fifth straight win and extended the rotation's scoreless streak to 27 2/3 innings. The Padres have shut out the Cardinals in the first two games of the three-game series, keeping Pujols at 698 career homers. The left-handed Snell had shut down Pujols and the Cardinals into the seventh, retiring the slugger twice and issuing just two walks. Juan Yepez followed with a single before Snell struck out Paul DeJong to tie his career-high of 13.
wftv.comPujols singles in 7th inning to break up Snell's no-hit bid
SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals grounded a single to right field with two outs in the seventh inning to break up a no-hit bid by Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres. The left-handed Snell had shut down Pujols and the NL Central-leading Cardinals until the 42-year-old slugger, who is two shy of 700 home runs for his career, punched a base hit to right on a 3-1 pitch, Snell's 107th of the game. Until then, the left-handed Snell had allowed only two runners, issuing walks to Nolan Arenado leading off the second inning and Paul Goldschmidt with one out in the fourth. He had retired Pujols twice, on a strikeout and a groundout. Juan Yepez followed with a single before Snell struck out Paul DeJong to tie his career-high of 13.
wftv.comPadres' Snell has no-hitter vs Cardinals after 6 innings
SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres has pitched six no-hit innings against Albert Pujols and the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals. The left-handed Snell has allowed only two runners, issuing walks to Nolan Arenado leading off the second inning and Paul Goldschmidt with one out in the fourth. He's retired Pujols twice — a strikeout and a groundout — with the 42-year-old two home runs shy of 700 for his career. Snell has struck out 11. The Cardinals haven't come close to getting a hit and have put only seven balls in play.
wftv.comCards reliever, rookie manager get heated on mound in win
Cardinals reliever Genesis Cabrera slammed the ball to the ground in frustration when he was removed from the game, prompting a stern response from manager Oliver Marmol moments before St. Louis closed out a 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.