![]() ![]() In fact, two of his four career three-homer games came against the Cubs, in 20, and he added a two-homer game in 2011. ![]() And Cubs fans can at least take some solace in the fact they’ve finally seen the last of him against their team - maybe even the last player to do as many of the things he did against the Cubs as often. “You take it all in because what he’s doing is absolutely incredible.”Īnd that’s the thing, whether you’re a Cardinal, like Marmol, or hate the Cardinals like most Cubs fans.įew opponents have put on the career displays against the Cubs that Pujols has. “There are times in this game where you take a step back from being locked into the game and you get to be a fan for a minute and experience it the way everyone else is,” Marmol told St. “It’s just pretty special to be able to do that,” said the man - The Machine - who is now one home run short of Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time list.Ĭardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol was more than willing to appreciate the history and magnitude of the moment for Pujols career as he basked in the sweep that pushed the Cards’ lead atop the division to 8 1/2 games. Pujols put the moment in the context of winning the game when talking to St. Our guys competed really hard and just came up a little short.” Just one of those - you’ve got to tip your cap to them. ![]() They’re playing really good baseball … And then a Hall of Famer steps up and hits a pinch-hit homer. “Look, they’re a really good team, and they’ve got some guys that have been a part of multiple championships,” he on the postgame broadcast when asked about the Pujols moment, “and they’ve got momentum on their side right now. Of course, that might not apply to the immediate aftermath of Sunday's home run.Īs much as Sunday’s blow could have been worse for the Cubs if they were fighting for a playoff spot and as “momentous” as one Chicago columnist suggested the scene was in the bigger picture after the game, Cubs manager David Ross seemed in no mood to wax historic about the moment or join the ample chorus in singing Pujols’ praises. Sunday’s parting shot - off the bench, no less - certainly was a fitting end, if not summation, to 199 games of trading blows with Pujols that began in 2001 and included sporadic meetings with his Angels from 2013 through 2019, until he returned to the Cardinals for his final season this year.Īnd you don't have to like the Cardinals to appreciate Pujols. 999 OPS.Ĭubs rookie left-hander Brandon Hughes on Sunday became the 451st different pitcher Pujols has homered against, two more than Barry Bonds’ previous record (Pujols tied the record against Smyly). Pujols has hit more homers against the Cubs than any team except the Astros (62) and, with the Cubs-Cards season series completed, finishes his career against the Cubs with a. RELATED: Pujols closes final Wrigley chapter among all-time Cubs foes RELATED: Pujols beats Cubs in last matchup, closes in on history That was what the last Cubs pitcher who gave up a home run to Pujols - Drew Smyly - said after that seventh-inning homer less than two weeks earlier beat the Cubs 1-0 at Wrigley Field. Click here to visit the PG Cares Foundation to begin: You can make a simple donation or register to create your individual/team fundraising page from the link above.“He’s The Machine for a reason,” said the pitcher who gave up the home run. As part of the event, each team is encouraged to help support the fight, and it’s not too late! Every dollar amount counts $50 funds 1 hour of research. ![]()
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