Pujols powers Cards to victory

DENVER — Albert Pujols hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning Monday night to add to the Colorado bullpen’s misery and lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Rockies.

Pujols put a 1-2 pitch from Jay Witasick (0-2) barely over the left-field wall for a 4-3 lead. The home run halted Witasick’s 10-game streak without allowing an earned run and marked the major league-high 11th blown save of the season for Colorado’s beleaguered relievers.

Abraham Nunez added an RBI double in the eighth for St. Louis, and after the Rockies cut the lead back to one, Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 15th save, and his 20th straight dating to last season.

Jason Marquis (6-3) threw his last pitch trailing 3-1 in the sixth, but got the win thanks to Pujols’ 12th home run of the season.

Trailing 5-3 in the eighth, J.D. Closser batted with runners on second and third and one out. Reliever Julian Tavarez threw a wild pitch to bring one run in, but Closser struck out and pinch-hitter Dustan Mohr lined out to end the inning. Preston Wilson grounded into a double play with runners on first and second and one out in the ninth to end the game. The Rockies were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Jamey Wright may have saved his starting spot in the Colorado rotation with a strong, six-inning effort in which he allowed just one unearned run and four hits, even though it didn’t net him a win.