Albert Pujols launched a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in five runs, Adam Wainwright pitched seven sharp innings and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Colorado Rockies 13-0 Thursday for a three-game sweep.
Pujols hit his 690th career home run, connecting off Austin Gomber and capping a five-run third that made it 10-0. It was Pujols’ 16th career grand slam — his first as a pinch hitter — and it moved him into a tie with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Dave Kingman for 10th-most slams of all-time.
Pujols added an RBI single.
Wainwright (10-9) gave up three hits, two of them infield singles. He struck out seven, walked none and retired his final 13 batters.
LHP Steven Matz (left MCL tear) will throw off a mound this weekend. RHP Jack Flaherty (right shoulder strain) is expected to throw 65-70 pitches for Double-A Springfield on Sunday.
RHP Miles Mikolas (9-9, 3.44 ERA) will begin a three-game series at Arizona Friday, 7:45 with the pregame and the first pitch at 8:40 on KIRX.