Albert Pujols hits two homers, Yadier Molina makes pitching debut as St. Louis Cardinals roll

PITTSBURGH — Albert Pujols hit two home runs, then caught the warm-up 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.

It's been an up-and-down start for Matz, a free-agent addition this offseason from the Toronto Blue Jays. He entered Sunday's start with a 3-3 mark and a 6.03 ERA.

«Sometimes stuff comes up,» Matz said. «I felt it a little bit in the bullpen. I was trying to work through it a little bit.… Just try to get through this, get some outs.»

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 in the ninth. Pujols is fifth on the all-time homer list, 13 behind Alex Rodriguez, and his 32 at PNC Park are the most by an opposing player.

«I'm here to try to help this ball club as much as I can,» Pujols said. «This is not about me. It's never been about me. It's always been about this Cardinals organization and the impact I can make on the players in the organization.»

Exactly a week after Pujols took the mound for the first time in his big league career, Molina got his turn with St. Louis ahead 18-0. Pujols was behind the plate to warm up his longtime teammate in-between innings.

A perennial All-Star