Pujols grabs fourth place in homers

Slugger’s 697th career blast helps the Cardinals rally for a win as he moves past Rodriguez on all-time list.

PITTSBURGH — Albert Pujols hit his 697th home run, moving past Alex Rodriguez into sole possession of fourth place on the career list and doing it in dramatic fashion with a ninth-inning drive that rallied the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday.

The National League Centralleading Cardinals trailed 2-1 when Pujols connected for a two-run drive. Pujols had tied Rodriguez with a home run in a victory Saturday night.

Pujols trails Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) on the all-time list.

“There’s impressive, and then there’s unbelievable,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.

In his chase for 700 homers, the 42-year-old Pujols has 21 games left in his 22nd and final season in the big leagues.

He has hit 18 home runs this year.

“This opportunity only comes once, and it’s something that’s a gift God has given me and I try to take advantage of it every single day,” said Pujols, a former Angel and Dodger who signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Cardinals, for whom he starred during his first 11 years in the majors. “I’m not only making memories for me but for the fans, my family and people who love me.”

The Cardinals went to the ninth inning trailing 2-0 but scored four runs off Chase DeJong to pull out the win in the rubber match of the three-game series.