St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits a single against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Albert Pujols homers in final at-bat against Cubs; gets closer to 700

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 9/4/22

The story Albert Pujols is writing in the second half of the Major League Baseball season just keeps getting better.

He added another chapter to it on Sunday afternoon when he blasted a mammoth two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to not only continue his incredible surge over the past two months but also continue his climb toward the 700 home run mark.

With the game tied, 0-0, and a runner on second, Pujols came off the bench as a pinch hitter and did this.

FIVE. TO. GO pic.twitter.com/xKUOuuIIUN
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 4, 2022

With first base open the Cubs could have opted to pitch around Pujols (or just flat out walk him) but decided to go right after him with a lefty.
Pujols did not miss and hit his 16th home run of the season.

That is also career home run No. 695 and brings him to within five of joining the 700 home run club that currently includes only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth.

He is also just one home run behind Alex Rodriguez (696) for fourth on the all-time list.

That home run also came in Pujols' final at-bat against the Cardinals' long-time rivals from Chicago. Pujols has 59 home runs in his career against the Cubs, the second most against any opponent (he has hit 62 home runs against the Houston Astros).

Pujols has 28 games to hit five more home runs to reach the 700 mark before he retires at the end of the season.

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