Pujols Is Injured in Cardinals’ Loss

Chicago has been playing without its All-Star first baseman for more than a month. The Cardinals are concerned they might be without theirs for a while too.

The Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam and St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols strained an abdominal muscle in the second inning of the Cubs’ 8-5 victory Saturday at St. Louis. Pujols, who leads the major leagues with 25 home runs and 65 runs batted in, will be reevaluated today but is expected to go on the disabled list.

Team physician George Paletta said Pujols, who pulled up and grabbed his right side while chasing a foul pop in the second, could be out for six weeks.

Phil Nevin, acquired on Wednesday from the Texas Rangers, hit a two-run homer in his first start with the Cubs. Nevin is expected to help make up for the absence of first baseman Derrek Lee, who is sidelined because of a broken right wrist.

Arizona 4-13, Atlanta 2-9 -- Damion Easley hit three home runs and finished with a career-high seven RBIs in the second game of a doubleheader, leading the Diamondbacks to a sweep of the host Braves.

San Francisco 6-2, New York 4-3 -- Pinch-runner Lastings Milledge scored with a nifty slide in the 11th inning on Chris Woodward’s shallow sacrifice fly, and the Mets edged the Giants to split a long, soggy doubleheader at New York.

Barry Bonds hit a run-scoring single in the opener and grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the second game.

Cincinnati 7, Houston 5 -- Pitcher Bronson Arroyo (7-2) was three for three, drove in a career-high four runs and pitched six strong innings to lead the Reds over the Astros at Houston.

The loss is Houston’s third in a row and its 20th in its last 28 games.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 544th home run in the fourth inning for the Reds.

Pittsburgh 6, San Diego 4 -- The Pirates scored five runs in the first inning with two out, and Zach Duke settled down after a rocky first inning as the Pirates defeated the Padres at Pittsburgh.

Duke (4-6) gave up three runs in the first but yielded only one hit over the next six innings.

Washington 4, Milwaukee 3 -- Brian Schneider hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Nationals over the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Florida 13, Colorado 0 -- Rookie right-hander Ricky Nolasco threw eight shutout innings, and the Marlins routed the slumping Rockies at Denver.

Florida has won eight of its last 11 games.