That Albert Pujols would drive in four runs with a three-run homer and a double Friday wasn't headline news. Pujols has been doing these sorts of things for eight seasons. But the first pairing of young outfielders Skip Schumaker and Brian Barton at the top of the order brought unexpected dividends.

The left-handed-hitting Schumaker had gone 0-for-16 to start the season, and the right-handed-hitting Barton had started three games in his stead last weekend. But Barton hadn't started since as injured left fielder Chris Duncan returned and Schumaker found his stroke.

On Friday night, leadoff man Schumaker reached five base five times on three hits and two errors and scored four runs. Barton, hitting second for the first time against San Francisco left-hander Barry Zito, had two hits and drove in his first two big-league runs.

Additionally, Schumaker and Barton threw out runners at the plate on successive plays after fielding singles in the fourth after San Francisco had gone ahead 2-1 and threatened to blow the game open. Schumaker is 9-for-17 after his awful start.

Cardinals 8, San Francisco 2:   RHP Kyle Lohse finally allowed a run after starting his Cardinals career with 15 1/3 scoreless innings. He gained his second win with airtight relief help from RHPs Kyle McClellan, Ryan Franklin and Kelvin Jimenez.

1B Albert Pujols hit his third home run in his last three games.

Notes

• 1B Albert Pujols has knocked in seven runs in his last three games after having just one in his first eight games.

• RHP Kyle Lohse allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings but only two runs before being removed.

• OF Skip Schumaker has scored six runs in his last three games. Citing such hitters as Pujols behind him.

• 3B Troy Glaus drove in a run for the fifth successive game with a seventh-inning fielder's choice.

• The Cardinals took a 1 1/2 game lead in the National League Central Division, their biggest lead since the last day of the 2006 season.

Player Stats

HITTERS

Rick Ankiel, RF

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .240 25 3 6 3 0 1 4 0

Season .275 40 6 11 3 0 3 8 0

Brian Barton, LF

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .400 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 0

Last 7 Games .375 16 2 6 2 1 0 2 0

Season .412 17 2 7 2 1 0 2 0

Chris Duncan, LF

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .188 16 4 3 0 0 0 1 0

Season .188 16 4 3 0 0 0 1 0

Troy Glaus, 3B

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .200 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

Last 7 Games .308 26 1 8 4 0 0 6 0

Season .250 40 1 10 5 0 0 8 0

Cesar Izturis, SS

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .333 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .278 18 3 5 1 0 0 1 0

Season .241 29 5 7 2 0 0 1 1

Adam Kennedy, 2B

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .208 24 3 5 0 0 0 2 0

Season .208 24 3 5 0 0 0 2 0

Jason LaRue, C

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .000 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Season .000 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ryan Ludwick, LF

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .500 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 0

Last 7 Games .261 23 4 6 2 1 1 3 1

Season .321 28 5 9 3 2 1 6 1

Aaron Miles, 2B

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .200 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .217 23 2 5 0 0 0 1 0

Season .217 23 2 5 0 0 0 1 0

Yadier Molina, C

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .200 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .269 26 2 7 1 0 0 4 0

Season .265 34 3 9 1 0 1 5 0

Albert Pujols, 1B

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .400 5 1 2 1 0 1 4 0

Last 7 Games .320 25 6 8 1 0 3 7 2

Season .378 37 7 14 3 0 3 8 2

Skip Schumaker, RF

BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

Last Game .600 5 4 3 0 0 0 0 0

Last 7 Games .429 21 7 9 2 1 0 0 0

Season .273 33 9 9 2 1 0 0 0

PITCHERS

Randy Flores, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0.2 1 0 0 1 1

Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 1 3 1.1 1 0 0 1 1

Season 0.00 0 0 1 4 2.1 1 0 0 2 3

Ryan Franklin, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 0 3 3.1 2 0 0 0 1

Season 1.59 0 1 0 7 5.2 6 1 0 1 1

Jason Isringhausen, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

Last 7 Games 0.00 0 0 3 3 3 1 0 0 0 3

Season 0.00 0 0 5 6 6 3 0 0 2 7

Kelvin Jimenez, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

Last 7 Games 4.50 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

Season 4.50 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

Braden Looper, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 4.76 1 0 0 1 5.2 5 3 0 0 4

Last 7 Games 3.09 2 0 0 2 11.2 10 4 0 2 7

Season 3.09 2 0 0 2 11.2 10 4 0 2 7

Anthony Reyes, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 1 0 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 1

Last 7 Games 3.86 1 0 0 3 4.2 3 2 1 0 4

Season 3.86 1 0 0 3 4.2 3 2 1 0 4

Russ Springer, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 0.00 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 1 0 0

Last 7 Games 13.50 0 0 0 3 2 5 3 1 1 3

Season 13.50 0 0 0 3 2 5 3 1 1 3

Brad Thompson, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 6.75 0 0 0 1 4 5 3 0 2 5

Last 7 Games 2.53 1 0 0 2 10.2 12 3 0 4 11

Season 2.53 1 0 0 2 10.2 12 3 0 4 11

Adam Wainwright, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 5.14 0 1 0 1 7 8 4 0 0 6

Last 7 Games 3.60 1 1 0 2 15 16 6 1 1 10

Season 3.60 1 1 0 2 15 16 6 1 1 10

Todd Wellemeyer, P

ERA W L Sv G IP H ER HR BB K

Last Game 2.57 0 0 0 1 7 5 2 2 1 7

Last 7 Games 2.25 1 0 0 2 12 9 3 3 4 13

Season 2.25 1 0 0 2 12 9 3 3 4 13

- Jay (StLDieHard)
WE believe