Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the leading vote-getter in the National League at 4.38 million, was named to his ninth National League All-Star team Sunday. It was the second year in a row he led the balloting.

In his eight All-Star appearances, seven of them starts, the National League lost each time, and Pujols didn't even get to appreciate the 7-7 tie in 2002. That was the only year in his career that he didn't make the squad.

"I'm sure the first thing the talk will be about Monday when we get to the clubhouse is 'Can we beat the American League and turn this thing around?'" Pujols said. "Every year we think we have a good chance. And the games have been pretty close. It isn't like they've been blowouts.

"But I want to know what it feels like to be on the other side," Pujols said by phone late Sunday.

The last four All-Star Games have been one-run American League victories — 3-2, 5-4, 4-3 and 4-3. In 2003, the National League lost 7-6.

This time the National League will have five Cardinals, the most since six in 2005. It also is the first time the Cardinals have had this many players selected since league expansion in 1961 when the Cardinals weren't in first place at the time the NL's players were named. They trail Cincinnati by 1 1/2 games in the Central Division.

Besides Pujols, catcher Yadier Molina, though struggling at the plate, will start for the second straight time. Word of his selection was only the second-best news Molina received Sunday; earlier, about 9:30 a.m., Molina was at the hospital for the birth of his daughter, Arianna, to his wife, Wanda.

Left fielder Matt Holliday was chosen on the players' ballot, becoming an All-Star for the fourth time and first as a Cardinal. Righthander Chris Carpenter was tabbed by Philadelphia and National League manager Charlie Manuel as one of the starting pitchers. And Adam Wainwright, who was fifth out of five starting pitchers elected from the players' ballot, finishing just ahead of Carpenter, didn't let anything distract him after he heard the news.

Wainwright threw his fourth complete game and knocked in three runs with a bases-loaded double.

"He's a gamer," Pujols said. "On the mound and with the bat. It shows you nothing is going to bother that guy."

Holliday wasn't really surprised by Wainwright's performance.

"He was pretty dominant," Holliday said. "(The Brewers) didn't look like they had much chance today. He pitched that well. And he can hit. He's dangerous."

Wainwright could have been distracted. Molina had more reason to be that way.

"Yadi had to wake up early and take his wife to the hospital," Pujols said. "He shows up an hour or hour and a half before the game. It was unbelievable how he was behind the plate, blocking the ball like he did. And Wainwright didn't shake off Yadi one time."

Before he headed back to the hospital, Molina said, "(The All-Star selection) is an honor always. I can't wait. Every time you think about people wanting to see you play, that makes me feel good."

He is only a .229 hitter now, but, Molina said, "If they vote for you, there has to be a reason for it. I'm glad they did."

The 7-1 victory heightened the day for Molina. "After that bad (12-5) loss yesterday, we had to come back and get that win, and we did," he said.

"I was here to play. I know I've got my baby back at the hospital. I want to win. And that's what I was here for."

To be the top vote-getter for a second time in a row is "an honor. It's pretty special," Pujols said. "I'm blessed. I'm going to do the best I can to represent the St. Louis Cardinals and the National League."

Holliday talked about the good feeling he had about being selected by the players. He was fifth on the players' All-Star ballot for outfielders. The top six were guaranteed spots if they hadn't won the fans' vote.

"Obviously, fans are very important," Holliday said. "But when you get voted in by your peers ... it's cool to make the All-Star team."

Carpenter will join former Toronto teammate and good friend Roy Halladay, now with the Philadelphia Phillies, on the All-Star team. But Carpenter seemed as happy for Wainwright as he was for his own selection.

"I'm excited that he's going to get an opportunity to experience it, no question about it," Carpenter said.

Carpenter said he would tell Wainwright, "There's a lot of stuff going on. There's a lot of signing things. There's a lot of chaos. But take in as much as you can."

The selection of Carpenter already had been made before Saturday when, not helped by his defense, he allowed eight runs in three innings. Not that he needed the reminder, but Carpenter said he told his father as they drove home from the park later that night, "The game continues to humble you."

La Russa, citing other Cardinals who could have been All-Stars, mentioned lefthanded rookie Jaime Garcia, whose 2.10 earned-run average is second in the league. Garcia finished behind a few other starting pitchers besides the five elected by the players, but could still be in play because of the oblique injury suffered by Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo here Sunday.

For now, there are five Cardinals on the roster.

"Five All-Stars should mean a 10- or 15-game lead," La Russa said, smiling, "if you had a manager who's worth a hoot."