ST. LOUIS (AP) _ One swing at a time, Albert Pujols closed in on another career milestone.
Pinch-hitting success had the St. Louis Cardinals' star, hobbled by a strained left calf muscle, one RBI away from becoming the first player to get 100 RBIs in his first seven seasons entering Monday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Pujols had missed five straight starts entering the team's season-ending seven-game trip, but went 2-for-2 with a bases-loaded walk and four RBIs during that stretch.
``It's a tough situation and obviously it's a situation that I don't want to be in,'' Pujols said. ``Obviously, right now I don't have any choice.''
Pujols had not played first base since he was a late lineup scratch last Tuesday, although he held out hope to return to the field before the end of the year.
He's found ways to contribute: a liner off the left-field wall for an RBI single that sparked a three-run ninth-inning rally in Sunday's 4-3 victory over Houston, an RBI single as part of a five-run seventh on Saturday, and a bases-loaded walk on Friday.
Manager Tony La Russa had Pujols pinch hit for David Eckstein in the ninth inning on Sunday night. That might have cost Eckstein, the 2005 World Series MVP and a fan favourite throughout his three seasons in St. Louis, his final plate appearance at home.
Eckstein can be a free agent after the season.
``I was thinking, `Here's a great clutch guy and I'm pinch-hitting for him,''' La Russa said. ``I'm pinch-hitting with Albert Pujols, who can do a little more damage than David.
``I think our club deserves to take the shot and I'm sure David understands that.''
