CHICAGO — Albert Pujols hit his 31st home run and Yadier Molina homered twice as the St. Louis cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Sunday night.

Pujols had four hits and took the National League lead in homers. Matt Holliday added three. John Jay homered, doubled and scored twice for St. Louis.

Jake Westbrook (10-7) held the Cubs to seven hits and two runs in seven innings, beating Chicago for the first time in three starts this season as the Cardinals salvaged the last game of a three-game series.

Jason Motte and Fernando Salas finished off the Cubs with two perfect innings.

Rodrigo Lopez (4-4) took the loss, allowing four homers and five runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Aramis Ramirez had two hits and drove in both of Chicago’s runs.

The win halted the Cardinals’ recent backslide and they finished their road trip 2-4. St. Louis remained 81/2 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

St. Louis broke on top in the second when Jay and Molina homered into the wind on consecutive pitches to almost the exact same spot in left field.

Jay and Molina teamed up again in the sixth. Jay drew a one-out walk and Molina homered to opposite field. It was Molina’s second career multi-homer game and his first since Aug. 16, 2007 at Milwaukee.

Molina has already surpassed his previous high with 11 homers on the season and his slugging percentage of .457 is nearly 80 points above his lifetime mark.

Pujols’ solo shot in the fifth was his 53rd career homer against the Cubs, the most he’s hit against any team. Pujols also singled three times for his fourth four-hit game of the season.

While he didn’t get in on the longball act, Holliday did single his last three times up, snapping an 0 for 13 skid.

The four homers matched a season high for St. Louis, which also hit a quartet on April 15.

Ramirez stayed hot with a double and run-scoring single. He’s hitting .487 (19 for 39) with four homers and 12 RBI in his last nine games.

Ramirez added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 3-2, but it wasn’t enough on a night when Lopez couldn’t keep the ball in the park.

Notes: RHP Dillon Maples, the Cubs’ 14th-round pick in the most recent draft, made his first appearance at Wrigley Field since signing with the club last Tuesday. The Cubs signed Maples away from the University of North Carolina, where he was to play both baseball and football, for a $2.5 million signing bonus, the most ever given to a player taken after the third round. Cardinals SS Rafael Furcal was held out of the lineup for the second straight day after jamming his right thumb during batting practice on Saturday. 2B Ryan Theriot was left out of Sunday’s starting lineup because of hamstring tightness. Both players are listed as day-to-day. Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner will take the next step in his rehab process when he takes the mound for Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday. Cashner has been out with a strained right rotator cuff since his start for the Cubs on April 5, his only game action this season. The Cubs will start Ryan Dempster in the opener a four-game home series against Atlanta on Monday. Jair Jurrjens will pitch for the Braves. Dempster is just 2-11 in his career against the Braves. St. Louis returns home Monday for the first of three games against the Dodgers. The Cards will send Chris Carpenter to the mound against LA’s Nathan Eovaldi. Carpenter has won all six of his career decisions against the Dodgers.

CHICAGO (AP) — Albert Pujols homering against the Chicago Cubs is no surprise. Yadier Molina doing it this year isn’t, either.

Pujols hit his 31st home run and Molina connected twice as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cubs 6-2 on Sunday night.

Pujols had four hits and took the National League lead in homers. Matt Holliday added three hits and John Jay homered, doubled and scored twice for St. Louis.

“A big win, feels good,” Pujols said. “I don’t know what it is, over the last two or three road trips, we haven’t started our road trips the way we wanted to. But it feels good to get a win tonight.”

The win halted the Cardinals’ recent slide and they finished their road trip 2-4. St. Louis remained 8½ games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

“We’re not worried about what Milwaukee is doing,” Pujols said. “They’re going to take care of their business and we’re going to take care of ours.”

It was Molina’s second career multihomer game and his first since Aug. 16, 2007, at Milwaukee.

“It’s fun, but for me it’s about the win,” Molina said. “I try to contribute in the game and try to do the right thing to win the game. We did it tonight.”

Molina has already surpassed his previous high with 11 homers on the season and his slugging percentage of .457 is nearly 80 points above his lifetime mark, a career season at the plate for the catcher who has won the NL’s last three Gold Gloves.

“Yadier has been the same hitter since he came up in 2004,” Pujols said. “When a guy doesn’t strike out and puts the ball in play a lot like he does, there’s a pretty good chance that the guy is going to be a pretty good hitter.”

Pujols’ solo shot in the fifth was his 53rd career homer against the Cubs, the most he’s hit against any team. Pujols also singled three times for his fourth four-hit game of the season.

Jake Westbrook (10-7) held the Cubs to seven hits and two runs in seven innings, beating Chicago for the first time in three starts this season as the Cardinals salvaged the last game of a three-game series.

“I thought (Westbrook) came up big,” La Russa said. “He knew what was at stake here. So he gave us a lift. He went out there and gave us exactly what we needed.”

Jason Motte and Fernando Salas finished off the Cubs with two perfect innings.

Rodrigo Lopez (4-4) allowed four homers and five runs in 5 1-3 innings. He said only two of the four home runs came off mistakes.

“Two were bad pitches,” Lopez said. “First one to Molina and the one to Pujols. The others I had my pitches where I wanted it. That was the game.”

Pujols has homered three times this season off Lopez after entering the season 0 for 11 against the veteran righty.

“He’s Pujols,” Lopez said. “He’s one of the best hitters in the game.”

Aramis Ramirez had two hits and drove in both Chicago’s runs, but alone he couldn’t overcome St. Louis’ homer binge.

The Cardinals broke on top in the second when Jay and Molina homered into the wind on consecutive pitches to almost the same spot in left field.

Jay and Molina teamed up again in the sixth. Jay drew a one-out walk and Molina homered to opposite field.

The four homers matched a season high for St. Louis, which also hit a quartet on April 15.

While he didn’t get in on the longball act, Holliday did single his last three times up, snapping an 0 for 13 skid.

Ramirez had a double and run-scoring single. He’s hitting .487 (19 for 39) with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games.

He added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 3-2, but it wasn’t enough on a night when Lopez couldn’t keep the ball in the park.

The Cardinals fell two more games back by losing two of three in Chicago over the weekend, but La Russa is hopeful that Sunday’s win will get them back on track.

“It means is you survive and survive means you’re still alive,” La Russa said. “That’s what we have going. We’re still alive. We just have to string together some more wins than what we did.”

Notes: RHP Dillon Maples, the Cubs’ 14th-round pick in the most recent draft, made his first appearance at Wrigley Field since signing with the club last Tuesday. The Cubs signed Maples away from the University of North Carolina, where he was to play both baseball and football, for a $2.5 million signing bonus, the most ever given to a player taken after the third round. Cardinals SS Rafael Furcal was held out of the lineup for the second straight day after jamming his right thumb during batting practice on Saturday. 2B Ryan Theriot was left out of Sunday’s starting lineup because of hamstring tightness. Both players are listed as day-to-day. Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner will take the next step in his rehab process when he takes the mound for Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday. Cashner has been out with a strained right rotator cuff since his start for the Cubs on April 5, his only game action this season. The Cubs will start Ryan Dempster in the opener a four-game home series against Atlanta on Monday. Jair Jurrjens will pitch for the Braves. Dempster is just 2-11 in his career against the Braves. St. Louis returns home Monday for the first of three games against the Dodgers. The Cards will send Chris Carpenter to the mound against LA’s Nathan Eovaldi. Carpenter has won all six of his career decisions against the Dodgers. .

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Albert Pujols(notes) hit a game-ending homer in extra innings for
the second straight day, beating the Chicago Cubs with a leadoff shot in the
10th inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-2 victory on Sunday.

Pujols hammered a fastball from Rodrigo Lopez(notes) (0-1) an estimated 446 feet to
left for his 10th career game-ending homer. His fifth shot during a seven-game
homestand and No. 13 for the season gave the Cardinals a three-game sweep over
the Cubs, who have lost nine of 11.

The Cardinals were down to their last strike before Ryan Theriot(notes) tied it
with an RBI double off Carlos Marmol(notes), driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz(notes) from
first. Theriot extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the Cardinals’ longest
since Pujols hit in 30 straight in 2009.

Marmol has two blown save opportunities in three appearances and is 10 for
14 overall.

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano(notes) pitched seven crisp innings, yielding one run
and five hits.

Fernando Salas(notes) (3-0) worked a perfect 10th against the top of the Cubs’
order to get the win.

Phillies 7, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) pitched seven effective innings, and
Philadelphia snapped a season-high four-game losing streak, beating Pittsburgh
Pirates 7-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.

Neil Walker(notes) hit a two-run homer in the first inning, one of six Pittsburgh
hits off Halladay (8-3), who had six strikeouts and one walk in tying for the
most wins in the majors.

Ryan Howard(notes) had three RBIs, Chase Utley(notes) was on base four times, and Placido
Polanco(notes) had two hits and scored twice for Philadelphia. The struggling Phillies
offense—seven runs in the previous four games—broke out with 14 hits and was
aided by seven walks, two hit batters, two wild pitches and a passed ball.

The Phillies completed a 4-5 road trip.

James McDonald(notes) was pulled after throwing 12 consecutive balls to load the
bases with nobody out. McDonald (3-4) came in having allowed only four runs in
three starts but walked five, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in
four-plus innings.

Dodgers 9, Reds 6

CINCINNATI (AP)—Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley(notes) drove in a career-high
three runs with a homer, a double and a bases-loaded walk, and Los Angeles beat
Cincinnati again.

Matt Kemp(notes) added a two-run homer—his third in five at-bats—as the Dodgers
improved to 28-10 against the Reds since 2006.

Billingsley (5-4) lasted only five innings, but helped himself build a big
lead.

He hit a solo homer—the second of his career—in the second inning off
Travis Wood(notes) (4-4). Billingsley drew a bases-loaded walk during the Dodgers’
three-run third. His RBI double to the warning track in right field ended Wood’s
outing in the fifth and made it 8-4.

Los Angeles took two of three in the series.

Drew Stubbs(notes) hit a solo homer, and Joey Votto(notes) and Brandon Phillips(notes) drove in
two runs apiece for the Reds, who have lost 13 of 18.

Mets 6, Braves 4

NEW YORK (AP)—R.A. Dickey(notes) pitched eight baffling innings, Jose Reyes(notes) hit
an RBI double and scored twice and New York beat Atlanta for the second straight
night.

Carlos Beltran(notes) had a run-scoring double off Tim Hudson(notes) (4-5) before fouling
a ball off his right shin and leaving the game in pain. Justin Turner(notes) added an
RBI single and the banged-up Mets finished 5-5 on a homestand against
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Brian McCann(notes) homered off Dickey (3-6) leading off the seventh to snap
Atlanta’s scoreless streak at 15 innings. They were shut out by rookie Dillon
Gee(notes) and two relievers Saturday night.

X-rays on Beltran’s leg were negative and he is day to day with a bruise.

Brewers 6, Marlins 5, 11 innings

MIAMI (AP)—Josh Wilson(notes) homered with two out in the 11th inning, and
Milwaukee topped Florida by a run for the third day in a row.

The Brewers won despite blowing a 5-0 lead. Wilson’s hit off Mike Dunn(notes) (4-3)
was the first for Milwaukee in 5 2-3 innings against Florida’s bullpen.
Milwaukee is 19-6 since May 9, best in the majors.

Tim Dillard(notes) (1-0) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and pitched 1 2-3
scoreless innings. John Axford(notes) worked the 11th, retiring Gaby Sanchez(notes) on a
groundout with two on for his 16th save in 18 chances.

The Marlins left 11 runners on base and went 2 for 10 with runners in
scoring position.

Giants 2, Rockies 1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Ryan Vogelsong(notes) pitched eight fantastic innings, and
Andres Torres(notes) singled home the tiebreaking run to lead San Francisco over
Colorado.

Freddy Sanchez(notes) also drove in a run for the Giants, who won their fourth in
five games. Miguel Tejada(notes) had two hits.

Chris Iannetta(notes) homered for the Rockies, who are 4-12 in their last 16 games
and have not won back-to-back games since May 16-17.

Vogelsong (4-1) matched his career high with eight innings, giving up a run
and four hits. He walked one and struck out seven. He has allowed one run or
less in each of his past six starts. Brian Wilson(notes) worked the ninth for his 17th
save.

Nationals 9, Diamondbacks 4, 11 innings

PHOENIX (AP)—Rick Ankiel(notes) drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out walk in
the 11th inning and Mike Morse followed with a grand slam, leading Washington to
a wild win over Arizona.

Managers Jim Riggleman of the Nationals and Kirk Gibson of the Diamondbacks
were among four ejections, and Washington was hit by a pitch four times,
including second baseman Danny Espinosa(notes) twice.

Wilson Ramos(notes) hit a three-run homer for the Nationals.

Arizona had won 18 of 22 and almost added to its list of 17 comeback wins,
tied for the major league lead. The Diamondbacks scored three times in the ninth
off closer Drew Storen(notes) to tie it at 4, but the Nationals bounced back.

Sean Burnett(notes) (1-2) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Joe Paterson(notes) (0-1)
took the loss.

Padres 7, Astros 2

SAN DIEGO (AP)—Chase Headley(notes) extended his career-high hitting streak to 15
games with an RBI double and San Diego won three consecutive home games for the
first time this season.

By taking three in a row from Houston after dropping the series opener
Thursday night, San Diego won just its second home series this season. The
Padres still have the NL’s worst home record at 12-21.

San Diego scored three first-inning runs to give Mat Latos(notes) (4-6) an early
lead. Latos labored through five innings to win his third straight start,
allowing two runs and six hits.

The last-place Padres won for the eighth time in 11 games.

Astros starter Jordan Lyles(notes) (0-1) had a rougher outing than in his major
league debut Tuesday at the Chicago Cubs when he carried a shutout into the
eighth.

The 20-year-old Lyles allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. After
winning the first four games on its road trip, Houston finished 4-3 for its
first winning trip this season.

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announces that the 2011 MLB All Star Game will be played at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondacks, in Phoenix, Arizona on April 11,2009. (UPI Photo/Art Foxall) 

CHICAGO, June 4 (UPI) — Commissioner Bud Selig said he has no worries about the Chicago Cubs, even though the team was among nine franchises in violation of baseball debt-equity rules.

Selig told the Chicago Tribune he remained fully supportive of the ownership of the Cubs, who have been experiencing decreasing attendance.

“I have no concerns, nor does anybody in baseball,” Selig said. “Nor am I concerned with the overall health of the industry.”

The Tribune said Saturday the Cubs were among a group of teams recently notified by the commissioner’s office they were in violation of debt-equity rules. The other clubs included the Dodgers, Mets, Tigers, Rangers, Orioles, Marlins, Nationals and Phillies.

The venerable Cubbies were purchased in 2009 by the Tom Ricketts ownership group as part of a larger, complex deal with the Tribune Co. worth $485 million, which required about $400 million in debt, the newspaper said.

The Cubs have since been shedding payroll and have largely stayed out of the competition for high-priced players.

Just as the thermometer pushes past 95 degrees, the Cubs arrived in St. Louis to begin a stretch of schedule that to call grueling is an understatement.

From now until the All-Star break, the Cubs have one day off. Because of a double-header on June 28, they have 38 games scheduled over the next 38 days. Warm up the bus to Iowa because there could be a few pitchers shuttling from Des Moines to Wrigley Field.

The Tigers will be nearly as busy. They don’t have any double-headers planned but they also have only one day off and their schedule includes two trips to the West Coast between now and the break.

The Mariners can feel that exhaustion. Their home game against the Orioles on Friday night will be No. 8 in a 20-games-in-20-day stretch.

Not every club has such a demanding pace. The Cardinals are off on the next four Mondays, though they had to survive a 27-day stretch with 26 games to get there.

When the Dodgers finish a three-city trip that begins Friday in Cincinnati, they can settle in for a long stretch in Southern California. Twenty-two of their last 25 games before the break will be played in L.A. or Anaheim.

The Giants have a quick turnaround with a home game Friday night after playing Thursday night in St. Louis but they should be able to catch up on some rest in the coming weeks. Beginning with this weekend’s series against the Rockies, 19 of their next 22 games will be played in the Bay Area.

“The schedule’s been screwy,” manager Bruce Bochy said of two months that have seen the Giants play 35 road games and only 21 at home. “It’ll be good for guys to be able to sleep in their own beds for a while.”

LOS ANGELES, May 4 (UPI) — Geovany Soto smacked a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday to pace the Chicago Cubs to a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 29 games with a fourth-inning single but the Dodgers were held to six hits by Cubs starter Rick Dempster and relievers Kerry Wood (1-1) and Carlos Marmol, who notched his eighth save.

Jonathan Broxton (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs on no hits and two walks in 1/3 of an inning.

Broxton started the ninth with the score tied 1-1. He gave up back-to-back walks with one out and was pulled in favor of Blake Hawksworth, who served up Soto’s double and an insurance RBI single to Blake DeWitt.

The Dodgers had scored first on Matt Kemp’s RBI single in the sixth, but the Cubs tied it in the seventh on a solo home run by Carlos Pena.

Los Angeles has lost three of its last four games.