(AP) -- Albert Pujols hit his first homer in 106 at-bats to end the longest drought of his career and the St. Louis Cardinals scored two runs off Heath Bell in the ninth to beat the struggling San Diego Padres 3-1 on Monday night.
The NL Central-leading Cardinals won for the seventh time in eight games.
The Padres have lost six of seven, and their 8-19 home record is the worst in the NL.
Daniel Descalso's RBI single to right off Bell (2-1) broke a 1-1 tie.
Ryan Theriot hit a two-out single to bring in Descalso.
Kyle Lohse (6-2) held the Padres to one run and five hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked one. Fernando Salas got the final two outs for his eighth save in as many chances.
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