Williams, Cards keep cruising

ST. LOUIS -- Woody Williams has been one of the biggest reasons why the St. Louis Cardinals are in playoff contention.

Williams won for the seventh time in eight decisions since joining St. Louis, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer as the Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 Sunday.

"The wins speak for themselves," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He's come in and made a terrific contribution."

Williams (15-9), acquired from San Diego on Aug. 2 for Ray Lankford, has been a key reason for St. Louis' late-season resurgence. The Cardinals are 36-15 since then to move within one game of NL Central leader Houston. St. Louis has a four-game lead in the wild card over San Francisco. The Astros and Giants both lost Sunday.

Williams gave up three runs -- two earned -- and struck out eight in seven innings to improve to 7-1 with a 2.53 ERA since the trade. He is 5-0 with a 1.10 ERA and three complete games in his past five starts.

The deal after the trade deadline -- meaning Williams got through waivers -- was really more about unloading Lankford, who was disgruntled, strikeout-prone and had lost his starting job in the outfield.

Williams was 58-62 lifetime at the time. But he had a history of pitching well down the stretch -- he is 15-8 with a 2.87 ERA lifetime in September and October.

And Williams has put together the best run of his career. He gave credit to St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan.

"Dave Duncan has really got me prepared to pitch every time I go out there," Williams said. "My first few years as a starter, I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't."

Pirates have rare lead

Williams allowed a run-scoring single by Brian Giles and a two-run home run by Aramis Ramirez in the fourth as the Pirates went ahead 3-2. It was Pittsburgh's first lead in the three-game series. The Cardinals swept the series to improve to 14-3 against the Pirates this season.

Otherwise, Williams was perfect -- he didn't allow a baserunner in his other six innings.

"Woody knows how to pitch," Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He was in and out, keeps the ball down on left-handed hitters. He's a solid, veteran pitcher."

Pujols hit his 37th homer in the first off rookie Tony McKnight (3-5). He also singled in the fourth and walked in the seventh. The homer was Pujols' 85th extra-base hit, adding to his NL rookie record.

Pujols has 350 total bases, two short of the NL rookie mark set by Richie Allen in 1964. He already holds the league rookie RBI record with 128 and is one short of the rookie home run record, held by Frank Robinson and Wally Berger.