ST. LOUIS — In a weekend full of emotional moments, Los Angeles slugger Albert Pujols saved the best for last.

Pujols capped off a stirring three-day return to St. Louis by exchanging jerseys with long-time friend and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina following the Angels’ 6-4 win on Sunday.

Pujols was cheered throughout his first series in St. Louis since leaving the club in free agency after the 2011 season. The former Cardinal got standing ovations before each plate appearance throughout the weekend and a curtain call after popping out in his final at-bat.

“This is probably one of the best moments of my career,” Pujols said. “I’m going to put it up there with the two World Series championships.”

Pujols met with Molina, his long-time friend, after the game. The two autographed and then exchanged jerseys on the field.

“That’s something we felt from our hearts that we should do,” Pujols said. “It’s something that’s going to be in my trophy case. To see the man that he has become, the leader, the champion. I can close my eyes right now and remember him, this little boy walking into Cardinals’ camp. The man that he has become is unbelievable.”

Los Angeles manager Brad Ausmus was overwhelmed by the support for Pujols over the three days.

“This is one of the most tremendous things I’ve seen in the game of baseball, the way he was treated as a visiting player,” Ausmus said. “I’ve always known how great the St. Louis fans are — but this was something special.”

St. Louis manager Mike Shildt was also impressed with the crowd’s love for Pujols.

“A special tribute to a special man,” Shildt said.

The 39-year-old Pujols was 4 for 11 over the three-game set, including a home run during a 4-2 loss Saturday. He spent 11 years in St. Louis and won three MVP awards and two World Series (2006, 2011) with the Cardinals.

After Pujols popped out with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, fans chanted his name as he returned to first base the next half-inning. It may have been his final chance to play in front of his old fan base.

Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher drove in two runs apiece, and Tyler Skaggs tossed five shutout innings for the Angels. Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak and finished a long road trip with a 6-5 mark.

“He was pounding the strike zone and the curveball was good,” Ausmus said of Skaggs.

The Cardinals rallied for four runs with two outs in the ninth, sparked by Jose Martinez’s solo homer. Angels closer Hansel Robles came on to get the final out in a non-save situation.

La Stella had run-scoring hits in the second and sixth innings to back a strong effort from Skaggs and five other relievers.

Skaggs (7-6) allowed four hits over five scoreless innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

“He was pounding the strike zone and the curveball was good,” Ausmus said.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas (5-8) gave up one run and seven hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two.

The Cardinals struggled with runners in scoring position over the first eight innings before coming up big in the ninth.

“We didn’t score early, the runs that we needed, and that’s why we lost,” St. Louis outfielder Marcell Ozuna said.

REYES SUFFERS SETBACK

St. Louis RHP Alex Reyes was removed in the second inning of a start for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday with right pectoral discomfort. He will be re-evaluated Monday.

Reyes missed all of 2017 and most of 2018 after undergoing elbow surgery. He made four appearances on the major league level this season with an 0-1 record and 15.00 ERA.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Jordan Hicks will be out two to three days after leaving Saturday’s game with right triceps tendinitis. “I’m really confident from the doctors and the medical team that it’s nothing related to anything structural,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney (0-1, 5.68) will face Cincinnati RHP Tyler Mahle (2-7, 4.17) on Tuesday in the first of a two-game series, which will kick off a six-game homestand. Heaney is making his sixth start of the season after missing the first 51 games with left elbow inflammation.

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (4-4, 4.24) will take on Oakland RHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 3.64) in the first of a two-game set on Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols took a curtain call for his adoring fans at Busch Stadium after homering against the Cardinals, but Marcell Ozuna connected to lead Dakota Hudson and St. Louis over the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Saturday.

Pujols hit his 13th home run, a solo drive in the seventh inning. He got a standing ovation as he rounded the bases and the cheers grew louder until Pujols emerged from the dugout and tipped his hat to the sellout crowd.

Pujols has 646 career homers, including 445 in his 11 seasons with the Cardinals. His 111 home runs at the new Busch Stadium are the most by anyone.

The three-time NL MVP who helped the Cardinals win two World Series championships returned to the ballpark on Friday night for the first time since helping St. Louis take the 2011 title. Pujols signed with the Angels after that season, and they hadn’t played an interleague game at Busch until this weekend.

Pujols was showered with ovations while hitting a single in two at-bats and drawing a walk Friday night. He went 1 for 4 in this loss, the third in a row for the Angels.

Ozuna hit his team-leading 20th homer of the season off Felix Pena in the sixth inning to make it 4-0 lead. Ozuna homered for the second straight day.

Hudson (6-3) gave up one run on five hits in a season-high 112-pitch stint. He struck out six and walked one. He has allowed one earned run or less in four of his last five starts.

Paul Goldschmidt had two hits for St. Louis, which has won five of seven.

Justin Upton also homered for the Angels, a solo shot in the eighth. Pena (5-2) started the third inning in relief of opener Noe Ramirez.

St. Louis broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth on a throwing error. Yadier Molina singled and Kolten Wong walked before Hudson set down a bunt that Pena threw wildly to third.

St. Louis closer Jordan Hicks left the game with two outs in the ninth. Tyler Webb picked up his first save by retiring Jonathan Lucroy on a grounder to end the game.

The Cardinals improved to 185-177 in interleague play, the best among NL teams.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Angels: RHP Trevor Cahill (right elbow inflammation) is almost ready to return to the active roster. Manager Brad Ausmus would not commit to whether he will return to the starting rotation or pitch out of the bullpen.

Cardinals: INF Jedd Gyorko will undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure on his right wrist on Monday. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt says there is no structural damage and that Gyorko’s recovery from his wrist surgery should coincide with his return from his calf injury that has kept him on the injured list since June 8.

UP NEXT

St. Louis RHP Miles Mikolas (5-7, 4.48) will face LHP Tyler Skaggs (6-6, 4.61) in the finale of the three-game set on Sunday night. Mikolas tossed six scoreless innings in a 5-0 win over Miami on Monday. Skaggs, who is looking to win his third successive start, leads the Angles in wins (6) and strikeouts (70).

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols drew so many cheers in his return to St. Louis, he even apologized to Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha.

Pujols was showered with ovations in his long-awaited return to Busch Stadium, but Marcell Ozuna spoiled the homecoming with a home run that helped the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Friday night.

“They showed you why they are the best fans in baseball,” Pujols said.

Pujols spent the first 11 years of his All-Star career with the Cardinals, helped them win the 2011 World Series and then signed with Angels as a free agent. Due to inconsistent interleague scheduling, this was the first time the Angels have visited St. Louis since Pujols left.

The slugger went 1 for 2 with a walk before being pulled for a pinch-runner.

Pujols received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 48,423 every time he stepped to the plate, including one in the first inning that lasted over a minute. He embraced Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina before batting, prompting the fans to get even louder.

“It’s pretty amazing. I’m just glad to be able to play here for 11 years and have the great memories. I was pretty close from having a couple of tears there I think, especially when I hugged Yadi and we had that little moment to ourselves.”

In the fourth, Wacha heard a smattering of boos after walking Pujols on four straight pitches to lead off the inning. Pujols got more cheers heading to the dugout after being erased on a forceout.

“He’s a dangerous hitter, I’m not trying to leave anything over the middle there,” Wacha said. “Ended up walking him and I guess the crowd didn’t like it too much,” Wacha said.

Wacha singled in the fifth. Pujols, playing first base, told Wacha he was sorry the ovations were messing with his routine.

“He said don’t worry about it, you deserve it,” Pujols said.

Said Wacha: “He probably deserved about five more minutes of that ovation.”

It was a rather eventful evening at the park in several ways.

In the bottom of the first with Matt Carpenter batting, the stadium’s alarm system was falsely activated, prompting a brief delay and sending a scattering of fans to the concourse.

In the fourth, Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hammered a foul fall that went completely out of the stadium.

Cardinals fans chanted “Let’s go, Albert” during Pujols’ at-bat in the seventh and he got a cheer as he beat out an infield single to lead off the frame. He drew a final standing ovation after being lifted for pinch-runner Wilfredo Tovar two batters later.

“I think Yadi did a nice job of giving the fans an opportunity to cheer Albert each time he came to the plate,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “Having played here many times and seeing how Cardinals fans react to even visiting players, I fully expected that to happen.”

Ozuna’s solo homer in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie. Ozuna also had RBI singles in the fourth and seventh.

Wacha (5-3) settled in after giving up an RBI double to Justin Upton in the first inning. He went six innings, struck out four, walked one and retired the final eight batters he faced.

Griffin Canning (2-4) sent down the first nine batters he faced before running into control issues in the fourth. He walked Carpenter and Goldschmidt and balked both into scoring position ahead of Ozuna’s single.

Despite the loss, Friday’s game will always mean something to Pujols.

“It was an incredible moment tonight and it’s something that I’m going to put it right up there with the accomplishment of winning the World Series twice here,” Pujols said. “It was a pretty special night.”

FACES IN THE CROWD

St. Louis natives Pat Maroon and Blaine Gabbert were at the game. Maroon helped lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup championship and Gabbert is a quarterback on the Tampa Bay roster.

HOT TICKET

The crowd was the eighth sellout of the season for the Cardinals and the second largest in Busch Stadium III history.

ROSTER MOVES

Angels: Recalled RHP Jake Jewell and RHP Luke Bard and optioned LHP Jose Suarez and RHP Taylor Cole to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Cardinals: Activated INF Yairo Munoz from the paternity list and optioned 1B/OF Rangel Ravelo to Triple-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Felix Pena (5-1, 4.70 ERA) will try to build on a career-high five straight winning decisions in the second game of the series in St. Louis on Saturday. He is 0-0 with a 4.92 ERA in three career appearances, all in relief, against the Cardinals.

Cardinals: RHP Dakota Hudson (5-3, 3.55 ERA) has seven straight quality starts and hasn’t given up a homer in 53 innings. He has never faced the Angels.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS — JT Riddle hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Zac Gallen was effective in his major league debut and the Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Thursday night.

Brian Anderson also went deep and drove in two runs for the Marlins, who earned a split of the four-game series.

Rookie infielder Tommy Edman homered for the Cardinals, who rallied from 4-1 and 5-3 deficits.

Riddle connected off Andrew Miller (3-3) with one out for a 7-5 lead.

Jarlin Garcia (1-0) got the win with two innings of relief, and Sergio Romo closed for his 13th save in 14 chances. He gave up a two-out RBI double to Yadier Molina, but ended the game by picking off pitcher Jack Flaherty at second base. Flaherty was pinch-running for Molina.

Edman tied it 5-all with a two-run homer off Tayron Guerrero in the eighth. It was Edman’s first career round-tripper and it came in his 10th at-bat.

Gallen gave up one run and five hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked two.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright allowed three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in his return from the injured list. The veteran right-hander, who strained his left hamstring running the bases June 9, struck out six and walked one.

Anderson hit a solo homer off John Brebbia in the eighth to push Miami’s lead to 5-3. It was his ninth of the season. Anderson also broke a 1-all tie with an RBI double off the glove of third baseman Matt Carpenter in the sixth.

Miguel Rojas gave the Marlins a 4-1 advantage when he knocked in a run with an infield single in the seventh.

St. Louis trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom half when Paul Goldschmidt hit an RBI double and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s single.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS — Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Dexter Fowler had an RBI single in the sixth for the Cardinals, who won for the seventh time in 11 games. Miguel Rojas tied it with a single in the eighth off reliever Carlos Martinez.

After beginning the game on the bench, Goldschmidt entered at first base in the ninth. Two innings later, he launched a 453-foot drive on a changeup from Adam Conley (1-7) for his fifth career walk-off home run.

St. Louis loaded the bases with none out in the 10th, but Sergio Romo escaped for Miami. He struck out Harrison Bader and got Marcell Ozuna to ground into an 8-4-3 double play started by center fielder JT Riddle as part of a five-man infield.

Cardinals starter Daniel Ponce de Leon gave up two hits over six shutout innings and was in line to earn his first major league win before Rojas’ single tied it.

Ponce de Leon struck out six and walked one in the longest of his three starts this season. It was the first time the right-hander did not allow a run in nine career starts.

John Gant (7-0) got the win with a perfect inning.

Miami has lost three of four.

Marlins right-hander Trevor Richards, from Aviston, Illinois — 40 miles east of St. Louis — went 5 2/3 innings before leaving after 108 pitches. He tied a season high with eight strikeouts and gave up three hits while walking three.

Richards pitched around a pair of walks in the third, but couldn’t get out of more trouble in the sixth. Fowler’s single, the third hit of the inning, snapped a 14-inning scoreless drought for the Cardinals and ended Richards’ night as he left to boisterous applause from his hometown cheering section.

ON THE BOARD

Rangel Ravelo started in Goldschmidt’s spot at first base and got his first major league hit in the sixth.

BIG FISH

Don Mattingly managed his 556th game on the Marlins bench, passing Fredi Gonzalez for most in franchise history.

ROSTER MOVES

Miami acquired OF Cesar Puello from the Angels for cash, and utilityman Rosell Herrera was designated for assignment. Puello grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list and LHP Jose Quijada was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. … 1B Garrett Cooper was a late scratch with a sore left triceps and was replaced in the lineup by Yadiel Rivera.

Cardinals: INF Yairo Munoz is expected to be activated from paternity leave Thursday.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Zac Gallen makes his major league debut Thursday night in St. Louis against his former organization. The 23-year-old righty was 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA at Triple-A New Orleans, striking out 112 in 91 1/3 innings. He was traded by the Cardinals to Miami in the deal for Ozuna after the 2017 season.

Cardinals: Plan to reinstate veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright (5-6, 4.46 ERA) from the injured list in the finale of a four-game series. Wainwright strained his left hamstring running the bases June 9. He has two shutouts in 11 career starts against Miami.

— Associated Press —