Albert Pujols snapped out of his funk and lifted the Cardinals over the Pirates 3-2 Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.

Pujols, who came in hitting .125, singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh after tying the game 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth off Pittsburgh starter James McDonald. Ryan Theriot, another previously slumping Cardinal, scored both runs.

On the go-ahead hit, Pujols turned on an inside pitch from Chris Resop and ripped it into left. It was a welcome sight for Cardinals fans left numb by endless speculation over Pujols’ future. The slugger went 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs.

Cards starter Kyle McClellan allowed two runs and six hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking one. McDonald (oblique) was on a pitch count and was lifted after Pujols' sacrifice fly, allowing four hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Miguel Batista (1-0) got the win in relief, and Ryan Franklin worked around a ninth-inning single for his first save. Garrett Olson (0-1) took the loss.

Lyle Overbay homered to give Pittsburgh (3-2) a 2-0 first-inning lead. St. Louis (2-3) cut the deficit in half on fourth-inning doubles by Lance Berkman and Allen Craig.