Jason LaRue drove in four runs with a home run and a funny-looking triple and Albert Pujols also homered, leading the Cardinals over Kansas City 9-6 on a day when both sun and wind seemed to side with St. Louis.

Every Cardinal batter had a hit except Adam Kennedy, who scored twice and drove in a run.

With gusts nearing 30 mph blowing across from left field, LaRue lifted what appeared to be a playable flyball into right off Brian Bannister in the second. The right fielder faded back and then faded back some more, but the ball sailed over the fence for a 2-0 lead.

With two out and two on in the fifth, LaRue smacked a line drive straight toward center fielder Joey Gathright. As Gathright took a few steps in and prepared to make the catch, the ball suddenly and sharply hooked away and rolled to the wall. Both runners scored on the backup catcher’s first triple since 2004.