Pujols returns from DL

CHICAGO -- Albert Pujols came off the disabled list Thursday and returned to the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup for their series finale against the Chicago White Sox.

The 2005 NL MVP played first base and batted third. He lined out to left field in his first at-bat.

Pujols played first base and went 0-for-4.

"I felt great. Of course timing is going to be off," Pujols said. "Wish we could have won the game, but I was just happy to be back there."

The Cardinals made two other moves before the game, putting struggling left-hander Mark Mulder on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain and sending Chris Duncan to Triple-A Memphis.

A large contingent of Cardinals fans at U.S. Cellular Field cheered loudly when Pujols' name was announced in the starting lineup. He had been out since straining a muscle on his side June 3. The Cardinals went 8-7 without him.

"It's been hard, but it's part of the game and you have to deal with it," said Pujols, who was still tied for the major league home run lead with 25 and was second in RBIs with 65. "Hopefully, it will only happen one time in your career, but anything can happen in this game."

Pujols began hitting in a cage this week and then moved to the field for batting practice in addition to running and taking grounders.

Mulder, who is just 1-4 in his last six starts, was tagged Tuesday by the White Sox, giving up nine earned runs and 10 hits in 2 1-3 innings.

"He couldn't throw his bullpen today," La Russa said.

"We were going to throw in the bullpen today, just to see if he could get there. But we canceled the bullpen, because in the training room he couldn't get his arm up. He can't get his arm extended into his throwing slot, whatever is preventing it."

Duncan, the son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan, batted .275 in 17 games with three homers and nine RBIs.