St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Albert Pujols hits home run No. 696, tying Alex Rodriguez for fourth all-time

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/10/22

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols continues to inch closer and closer to the magical 700 home run mark.

After hitting career home run No. 696 Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals' slugger is just four homers away from the milestone.

6⃣9⃣6⃣ pic.twitter.com/zUUBfKXNll
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 11, 2022

In the top of the sixth inning, Pujols smashed a two-run home run down the left-field line, turning on the first pitch in his at-bat against Pirates starter J.T. Brubaker.

Homer No. 696 moved Pujols into a tie with Alex Rodriguez for the fourth-most home runs in baseball history. Pujols trails only Babe Ruth (714), Henry Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762) on the all-time list.

PUJOLS TIED FOR 4TH ALL-TIME! pic.twitter.com/xredwe15jD
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 11, 2022

If Pujols reaches the 700 home run mark, he'll sit alongside some very exclusive company.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Dispatch, Pujols would join only Ruth and Aaron as the only players in the history of baseball to record 700 home runs and 2,200 RBI.

If he reaches 700 home runs Albert Pujols will also join Aaron and Ruth as the only players with 2,200+ RBIs. https://t.co/hrQqFM6MbN
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) September 11, 2022

After Saturday, the 42-year-old has 23 regular-season games left to reach No. 700.

On the year, Pujols has 17 home runs and 46 RBI while slashing .266/.339/.520 in 89 games for the Cardinals.

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