MILWAUKEE _ Albert Pujols cracked his National League-leading 36th home run with two out in the first inning tonight to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Pujols, homering for the first time in 11 games, connected off one of his favorite targets. He is 16 for 28 (.571) with four homers in his career against Milwaukee lefthander Chris Capuano.