Everybody knows that Albert Pujols hit two home runs on opening day, and many learned his four hits tied the St. Louis Cardinals’ opening day record, but how many noticed that he also scored four times? Further, do you have any idea how rarely that happens?
Tom Orf does. With the new year, our in-season stats guru returns from his winter break and pulled the list of Cardinals scoring four or more times in one game, giving me an opportunity to analyze the data and share it with you.
In the last 90 years, it has happened 136 times. In Tony La Russa’s 14 years and one day as manager, Albert was number 23. Only once in those 23 games did the Cardinals lose. The last time a four-run game occurred twice in one season was 2006 and the most recent season in which no Cardinal crossed the plate at least four times in a game was 2001. It was also the only such year in the La Russa era.
The most runs scored in a game in team history is five, which has occurred eight times since 1920. The most recent was J.D. Drew on May 1, 1999.
Note that Pujols was also the most recent Cardinal prior to Monday to collect at least four hits in a four-run scored game, on July 20, 2004, when he had five. Albert also scored four times against the Reds on April 16, 2006.
Not in the table bonus
The Cardinals player with the most four-or-more run games is Frankie Frisch (1928-32) with seven. Rogers Hornsby (1920-25) and Sunny Jim Bottomley (1925-32) are next with six. Pujols (2004-10) and Chick Hafey (1929-31) are right behind with five. (Note there were a lot of runners crossing the plate in the late ‘20s and early ‘30s!)
The common thread? The other four are Hall of Famers.
Interestingly, the Cardinals career leaders in runs scored, a pair with Cooperstown plaques themselves, Stan Musial (1,959) and Lou Brock (1,427), are nowhere to be found among the single-game leaders. Brock had just three such games in his 16-season St. Louis career and amazingly, Stan the Man scored four times in a contest only once over 22 years. If only Musial would have enjoyed a supporting cast like the four Hall of Famers noted above!
St. Louis Cardinals player, four runs or more, game (1996-2010 listed by season)
| Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB |
| Albert Pujols | 4/5/2010 | CIN | W 11-6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Albert Pujols | 4/23/2009 | NYM | W 12-8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Skip Schumaker | 4/11/2008 | SFG | W 8-2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Ankiel | 9/6/2007 | PIT | W 16-4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Ronnie Belliard | 9/19/2006 | MIL | W 12-2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Albert Pujols | 4/16/2006 | CIN | W 8-7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Jim Edmonds | 7/18/2005 | MIL | W 11-4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Albert Pujols | 7/18/2005 | MIL | W 11-4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| David Eckstein | 6/19/2005 | TBD | W 8-5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Albert Pujols | 7/20/2004 | CHC | W 11-8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Edgar Renteria | 7/2/2004 | SEA | W 11-2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Jim Edmonds | 6/28/2003 | KCR | W 13-9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Bo Hart | 6/28/2003 | KCR | W 13-9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Edmonds | 6/8/2003 | BAL | W 11-10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Eli Marrero | 9/20/2002 | HOU | W 9-3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fernando Vina | 2000-04-16 (2) | COL | L 13-14 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| J.D. Drew | 5/1/1999 | MON | W 16-5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark McGwire | 5/23/1998 | SFG | W 11-10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Mark McGwire | 4/14/1998 | ARI | W 15-5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Ray Lankford | 5/7/1997 | PHI | W 14-7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Ozzie Smith | 9/2/1996 | HOU | W 8-7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Brian Jordan | 7/12/1996 | CHC | W 13-3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| John Mabry | 5/9/1996 | SFG | W 16-8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Interesting Brian.
No way Baker pitches to Pujols today. He will walk at least twice. Likely gets a hit if he is lucky. Pressure to Holiday and Rasmus. Reds will see allot of pitches. If Wainwright gets over aggressive and starts leaving the ball over and up, they will take him deep. Will we hit Johnnie Q? Vegas likes the Cardinals but not by much.
Johnny C
Thanks BB.
He challenged Albert more than I would of thought. First pitch swinging by the Reds? They will miss the pen completely if they do that.
How about that Roland missing a hit and run sign……..ouch.
Bonus trivia from FS Ohio broadcast.
Only three players in MLB history have 2 or more home runs, 4+ hits and 4+ runs scored on opening day. Albert joined Xavier Nady and Dmitri Young. I would never have guessed those two.
To end the top of the fourth, Skip had his best AB of the year so far. Must have seen a dozen pitches. More than some entire games this spring…
Ouch. He was looking in. Waino had that well inside but it appeared to be off speed. He has pitched well here. Nothing you can do about that one, it was just a good at bat.
Skip finally lags the head and goes away………base hit. Hopefully he gets it.
That’s how you draw it up.
test book by TLR and Colby against Rhodes
The pitch sequence by Yadi and Reyes was superior. Caught him over aggressive on one. Two out of the Zone. Grooved him in a take situation. And gave him a tough pitch to protect against.
Ludwick saves Franklin………. to much hard contact. I thought his mechanics were rough.
We should see some bench guys tomorrow being a day game after a night game. Will be interesting to see who plays where and what lineup.
Missed the game tonight, but between the box and recap and Westie’s observations I got the picture. Glad to see Skip do a little something at the plate and Frankie not get killed to bad. I’d be interested to know how Freese looked defensively. Will miss tomorrows game too.
La Russa likes Lopez to hit in the No. 2 spot, though he’s also considering moving outfielder Ryan Ludwick up in the order.
Luddy is already getting buried by Colby…………Only other place is 2nd. I’m guessing Ryan / Ludwick……..or Lopez /Ludwick. soon enough. I hope Shu re calibrates. Scouts aren’t missing his issues.
BB, if your at work, try the StreamTorrent solution offered to beat MLB blackout.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AseUYVzYOGLMhp37gitwgwkRvLYF?slug=ti-brewers040710
Going right after Pujols………pitching around Rasmus? Keep this game on video as a memento RC.
That’s not just Arroyo. That from the dugout.