Albert Pujols hit two home runs, then caught the warmup tosses when star catcher Yadier Molina made his first pitching appearance to close out the St. Louis Cardinals’ 18-4 romp over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

Molina gave up a pair of homers and four runs while working the ninth inning, eventually completing the Cardinals’ three-game sweep.

But it was not all fun and games for St. Louis. Starter Steven Matz lasted only four pitches before being pulled with stiffness in his left shoulder.

Pujols boosted his career home run count to 683. Pinch-hitting for Nolan Arenado with St. Louis up 11-0 in the fifth inning, Pujols launched a 425-foot drive off the left-field rotunda.

The 42-year-old slugger added a three-run homer in the ninth off Pirates infielder Josh VanMeter. Pujols is fifth on the all-time homer list, 13 behind Alex Rodriguez in fourth, and his 32 at PNC Park are the most by an opposing player.

Overall, Molina allowed four hits in his one inning, throwing 14 of 20 pitches for strikes, without a strikeout or walk.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (3-2, 1.68) will take the mound Monday night as St. Louis heads home for the first of two games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Mikolas has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts this season. Game time is 6:45.