Albert Pujols led a three-homer fifth inning attack to power the Cardinals past the Phillies 8-4 at Busch Stadium.  Pujols' 22nd of the year was followed by solo shots from Allen Craig and Skip Schumacher.  Randy Winn added a solo homer an inning later as the Cards won their six straight to open the four-game series.  Blake Hawksworth gave up four runs on 10 hits over six innings to pick up the win and move to 4-and-5 on the year.  Kyle Kendrick took the loss after yielding seven runs in five frames to fall to 5-and-4.  Shane Victorino singled in two and Ryan Howard had an RBI double for the Phillies, who had won four in-a-row.  The series continues tonight as 10-and-3 Chris Carpenter opposes 9-and-9 Jamie Moyer of the Phils. Pregame at 6:32 on AM730 KWRE

Outfielder Ryan Ludwick is set to make his way to Memphis for a rehab assignment with the Redbirds.  The "Post-Dispatch" reports Ludwick will join the Triple-A squad tonight as he continues to work his way back from a calf strain that has sidelined him since June 25th.  He was on target to return early this month before aggravating the injury while on a treadmill and landing on the disabled list.  If all goes well, he could be back with the Cardinals in time for this weekend's series with the Cubs in Chicago.  Ludwick is batting .273 with 11 home runs in 42 RBI this season.

Jason Isringhausen is looking to return to the major leagues.  The former Cardinals closer is slated to throw for the Cincinnati Reds today as he auditions for a big league job following Tommy John surgery.  The 37-year-old pitched with Tampa Bay last year and has 293 career saves, 217 of which came while with St. Louis.  Scouts from other teams are expected to watch as well.

Hunter Pence singled in two to ignite a five-run first inning and the Astros went on to club the Cubs 11-5 in the first of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.  Carlos Lee had a two-run double in the opening frame and Jason Castro added a three-run homer in the third to make it 8-0 Houston.  Wandy Rodriguez pitched six innings of five-run ball for his seventh win. Carlos Silva surrendered seven hits and five runs in one inning of work to fall to 9-and-4 with the loss.  Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez each hit home runs for Chicago.  Derrek Lee had three hits and scored twice in the setback.  Ryan Dempster will oppose Wesley Wright in the second game tonight at 7:05 p.m.

With the start of training camp just over a week away, the Rams have begun contract talks with top-overall draft pick Sam Bradford.  According to the "Post-Dispatch," negotiations started Saturday, but a deal isn't likely to come quickly.  The Oklahoma quarterback is expected to get somewhere between $45-and-$50-million in guaranteed money, which would be higher than the nearly $42-million quarterback Matthew Stafford got as the first-overall pick last year from the Detroit Lions.

Missouri 's men's basketball team will play twice on ESPN's Big Monday broadcasts this coming season.  The Tigers will host Kansas Sate on January 17th, then travel on February 7th to take on the Kansas Jayhawks.  It's the first time since the 2003-04 campaign that Mizzou will play twice on the network's Monday broadcast.  The K-State game will be a special 4:30 p.m. broadcast on Martin Luther King Day.  The Kansas game will begin at 8 p.m.