Instant Replay: Cardinals’ Albert Pujols Makes First Pitching Appearance
May 16, 2022, 10:41 AM
Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium on May 15, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols made his first MLB pitching appearance.
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Pujols, 42, and the Cardinals hosted the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium on Sunday, May 15.
As the game went to the top of the ninth inning, St. Louis owned a 15-2 lead and Cardinals Oliver Marmol told players in the dugout that he didn’t want to use another relief pitcher to close out the game.
Pujols overheard the manager and requested to close out the game on the mound.
“They were looking and I was like, ‘I’ll do it. Why not?'” Pujols said via ESPN.
How @PujolsFive the pitcher came to be: pic.twitter.com/HzBtvJVJis
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
It was the first time Pujols pitched in his 22 years in the MLB.
The three-time NL MVP gave up a pair of home runs that resulted in four runs scored by the Giants before getting a third out to end the contest.
You never know what you're going to see when you come to the ballpark.@PujolsFive finishes the W for the @cardinals! pic.twitter.com/DM4aUkE4R1
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
“A dream come true to say that I did it,” Pujols said. “It was fun. It wasn’t fun giving up two bombs. I think the fans had a good time. I’m sure the guys that took me deep did, too.”
.@PujolsFive accomplished a dream last night. 😂 pic.twitter.com/zm4bLC8t2K
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
St. Louis beat San Francisco, 15-6. The win improved the Cardinals’ record to 19-15 this season.
Pujols finished the night batting 2-3 with two runs, one RBI, and two walks. As a pitcher, he went 1.0 innings and allowed three hits, four earned runs, one walk, and two home runs.
we didn't say what kind of pitcher
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
This season, the Cardinals star is hitting .239 and has an on-base percentage of .788. He has recorded nine runs, 11 hits, six RBIs, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in 46 at-bats in 17 games played.
Pujols is fifth on the MLB career list with 681 home runs.
