Pujols ends RBI drought as Cards salvage series finale

SAN DIEGO -- Albert Pujols hit his first homer and drove in his first runs in 12 games, and Brendan Ryan tied a career high with four hits to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Thursday night.

Rookie P.J. Walters won his first major league game with five shutout innings.

Pujols, who was homerless with no RBIs since May 14 at Cincinnati, ripped a solo home run and nearly had another to help the Cardinals avoid their first three-game sweep against San Diego in nearly 15 years. He finished with three RBIs.

Pujols lined a shot off Wade LeBlanc (2-3) in the fifth inning that hit off the third-story balcony of the brick Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field.

Pujols, who came into the series in a 3 for 20 slump, added a sacrifice fly in the seventh as St. Louis broke out of its offensive doldrums with 15 hits. The Cardinals had scored just one run in dropping the first two games of the series, including Wednesday night's 2-1 loss in 13 innings.