Albert Pujols' 3 HRs help Cardinals pound Rangers, 16-7

Albert Pujols launched three long homeruns, drove in six runs and finished with five hits—tying World Series records with each accomplishment—as the St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Texas Rangers, 16-7 to lead the series 2-1.

The three-time NL MVP matched Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson for the most homeruns in a game, connecting on fastballs from three different pitchers. Pujols added two singles and set a World Series mark with 14 total bases while helping the Cardinals to their highest-scoring game in their storied postseason history.

In St. Louis at Busch Stadium, both teams went for eight runs and 23 hits in the first two games. In Game 3 at Arlington, Texas, they combined for 23 runs and 28 hits.

Pujols’ six RBIs matched Bobby Richardson in 1960 and Hideki Matsui in 2009. He also tied the World Series mark for hits in a game set by Paul Molitor in 1982.

Game 4 is set for this Sunday night, with Derek Holland starting for the Rangers against Cardinals starting & former Detroit Tigre Edwin Jackson. It will be part 2 of a St. Louis-Texas style doubleheader as the NFL's St. Louis Rams will play the Dallas Cowboys in the afternoon at 4 pm at Cowboy Stadium, right across the parking lot from Rangers Ballpark.