Player of the Week: Albert Pujols

SAN FRANCISCO -

If only Tony La Russa could snub his best player every week. The St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman, perhaps motivated by being left on the All-Star bench by La Russa, opened the second half by clobbering four home runs in three games. The defending NL MVP, who, after initially saying he was upset with La Russa at the All-Star sitdown but later retracted his statement, went 7-for-17 (.411) with five runs scored and five RBIs as the Cardinals went 2-2. With the home run binge, Pujols has 20, while raising his batting average to .315.

— Will Reisman