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Sports

Ankiel's 2-run home run powers Cardinals

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LOS ANGELES – Rick Ankiel put St. Louis ahead with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Chris Carpenter allowed five hits over eight innings in the St. Louis Cardinals’ ninth victory in 10 games – a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles in the National League on Monday.

Albert Pujols hit his major league-leading 39th homer as the Cardinals opened a seven-game California trip.

Carpenter (13-3) fell behind twice, but Pujols and Ankiel connected to ensure his fifth consecutive victory. He is 8-0 in nine starts since July began, and 5-0 in six career starts against the Dodgers.

James Loney had an RBI single in the fifth for the Dodgers, who opened a tough seven-game homestand with their fourth loss in five games.

Ankiel homered after knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (0-1) hit Ryan Ludwick with a pitch. Ankiel was in a 1-for-17 slump before his ninth homer of the season.

At San Diego, rookie Kyle Blanks hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of ninth as San Diego downed Chicago, 4-1.

The Cubs were one strike away from securing a 1-0 win when Chase Headley doubled off Kevin Gregg (4-5) to score David Eckstein, who walked with one out, from first base.

Kevin Kouzmanoff was intentionally walked and Blanks hit his seventh homer.    (AP)

ALBERT PUJOLS

ANKIEL

AT SAN DIEGO

CHARLIE HAEGER

CHASE HEADLEY

CHRIS CARPENTER

DAVID ECKSTEIN

JAMES LONEY

KEVIN GREGG

KEVIN KOUZMANOFF

KYLE BLANKS

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