CINCINNATI (AP) - St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols was helped off the field with a strained left calf he suffered in the seventh inning of the Cardinals' game Tuesday at Cincinnati.

Pujols, who hit his 16th homer of the season in the third inning, hit a grounder to first baseman Joey Votto and took three steps before reaching down to grab his left lower leg and falling to the ground.

Manager Tony LaRussa and trainer Greg Hauck went out to check on Pujols before left-handed relief pitcher Ron Villone and catcher Yadier Molina helped him back to the Cardinals dugoout.

St. Louis was leading 6-2 with nobody out at the time.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.