The Latest Breaking News from Albert Pujols

The Cardinals legend is close to passing a lesser-known Bonds home run record.

A red sea of Cardinals fans inundated Coors Field Tuesday night, pumped up to cheer on heroes Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Paul Goldschmidt.

LOS ANGELES — When Albert Pujols stepped to the batter's box in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday and in his only at-bat in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, he did so under the backdrop of a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd.

Paul Blackburn’s pinpoint strike at the top right corner of the zone whizzed right past Joc Pederson’s blurred bat, ending a scoreless frame for the Oakland Athletic pitcher. It was an ordinary result in extraordinary circumstances. This wasn’t a middling Giants team the 28 year-old had held down on Tuesday…

Considering 58% of the season was in the bag by the time the Cardinals split ways for their All-Star break, it feels a little silly to refer to what starts Friday in Cincinnati as the beginning of the second half.

You ready for a frantic finish to the MLB season? It’s going to be epic!

LOS ANGELES — A sensation he had around the Cardinals clubhouse a year ago continued this week when Paul Goldschmidt returned to the All-Star Game for the first time in four years. More than his jersey had changed, but it was hard to explain what.

LOS ANGELES — Baseball's All-Star Game was a sweet treat, a refreshingly icy blast on a hot July afternoon, a nod to the game's tradition that featured enough new wrinkles and fresh personalities to make it entertaining and help keep the All-Star format vibrant for years to come.

Monday at Dodger Stadium represented some of the best baseball has to offer.