Albert Pujols breaks yet ANOTHER incredible MLB record by hitting a home run off 450th different pitcher… as he inches ever closer to 700 homers with No. 694 vs. Cincinnati
- Albert Pujols is closing in on the fourth spot for the most home runs hit in history
- The Cards star trails Alex Rodriguez by two and is 66 behind leader Barry Bonds
- Pujols grabbed the outright record for most pitchers hit for home runs with 450
- Prior to Monday night’s game he shared the record with Bonds at 449 pitchers
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols extended his major league record to 450 different pitchers hit for a home run, connecting off Cincinnati left-hander Ross Detwiler on Monday night in a 13-4 rout of the Reds.
Pujols had been tied with Barry Bonds for most pitchers as longball victims at 449 but took the crown for himself on his way to home run No. 694.
The Dominican-American is closing in on fourth spot on the all-time home run list, with former Yankee Alex Rodriguez two ahead on 696.
Albert Pujols hit his 450th different pitcher for a home run on Monday, the most in MLB history
Bonds leads all comers with 762, followed by Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and then Rodriguez.
‘Obviously, his career speaks for itself,’ Detwiler, the victim of Pujols’ homer, said.
‘All of his numbers are better than anything I’ve seen in person. It is kind of unbelievable. He’s been so good for so long.’
Baseball legend Barry Bonds’ all-time homerun record is likely safe despite Pujols’ superb form
The 42-year-old Pujols lined a two-run, opposite-field drive to right field off the left-handed Detwiler in the third inning at Great American Ball Park.
Pujols’ 15th homer of the season gave the NL Central-leading Cardinals an 8-0 lead.
‘Obviously, his career speaks for itself,’ Detwiler said. ‘All of his numbers are better than anything I’ve seen in person. It is kind of unbelievable. He’s been so good for so long.
This was Pujols’ 134th career home run in August, his most prolific month. He broke a tie with Rodriguez for second behind Bonds’ 148.
Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals easily dispatched the struggling Cincinnati Reds on Monday
‘We’re having a blast watching him do what he’s been doing,’ St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said.
‘He’s swinging the bat well. He stayed on that pitch well. It was a good swing all the way around. When he gets hot, it gives everybody confidence.’
The crowd of 11,051 included many fans wearing Cardinals gear. They gave Pujols a warm welcome every time he stepped to the plate.
‘It’s pretty special,’ Pujols said. ‘The energy is pretty special. It means a lot to me. Right now, I’m enjoying it.’
The Cardinals sit first in the NL Central with a seven-game lead over second-placed Milwaukee
.