RetroSimba

After becoming the second Cardinals player to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats, Albert Pujols came close to becoming the first big-league player to achieve the feat in five at-bats in a row.

In April 2006, Pujols joined Stan Musial as the only Cardinals to hit home runs in four straight at-bats.

Pujols, 26, a right-handed batter, hit home runs in each of his last three at-bats against the Reds on April 16, 2006, and in his first at-bat against the Pirates on April 17, 2006.

Musial, 41, a left-handed batter, hit a home run in his last at-bat against the Mets on July 7, 1962, and in each of his first three at-bats against the Mets on July 8, 1962.

Pujols was the first player to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats since the Blue Jays’ Carlos Delgado did it in September 2003. Pujols tied the big-league record held by 34 others.

After hitting his fourth consecutive home run, Pujols nearly hit another in his next at-bat. The blast off Pirates starter Paul Maholm slammed against the wall in right-center at Pittsburgh and Pujols settled for a double.

Three in a row

Pujols’ streak began on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006.

The Reds led the Cardinals, 4-2, in the fifth inning at St. Louis. With one out, Aaron Miles singled. Pujols followed with a home run off starter Bronson Arroyo that “smacked so hard against the Casino Queen Party Porch it could be heard miles away,” according to Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch.

In the seventh, with the Cardinals ahead, 5-4, two outs, Pujols hit a solo home run off former teammate Rick White.

Entering the bottom of the ninth, the Reds led, 7-6. Jason Marquis, pinch-hitting for fellow pitcher Braden Looper, led off with a single. Pujols stepped in against David Weathers and walloped a walkoff, two-run home run for an 8-7 Cardinals victory. Boxscore

The ball “flew high toward the foul pole in left (and) caused 40,068 to draw a hard breath,” wrote Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch. “Fair or foul? Count it.”

Describing the shot on television, broadcaster Joe Buck said, “How fair can it be? Just enough.”

The ball landed in the third deck and traveled 441 feet.

Hard to describe

“He’s a great hitter, but if you make your pitch you can get a double play,” Weathers said to the Associated Press. “It was just a bad pitch and he hammered it.”

Said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa: “This is one where you’ll be lost for words … I’m at a loss to describe it, man.”

“Indeed,” wrote Miklasz, “there are only so many ways to say that Pujols is the best hitter of his generation.”

Pujols told Strauss, “Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get three more and forget about today.” Check out this video of all three home runs.

Power in Pittsburgh

The next night, April 17, 2006, the Cardinals opened a series at Pittsburgh. In the first inning, So Taguchi singled with one out and Pujols hit a two-run home run to center off Maholm.

Those were the only Cardinals runs in a 2-1 triumph.

Pujols also doubled and walked before ending his on-base streak by flying out in the seventh against Salomon Torres.

Afterward, told by Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch that he had joined Musial as the only Cardinals with home runs in four consecutive at-bats, Pujols said, “That’s awesome, but it was more important we won the game.” Boxscore

Said La Russa: “He’s doing things that put him in the company of the greatest players of all time.”

Previously: Stan Musial still oldest to belt 3 home runs in a game