The Cardinals scored 29 runs in Albert Pujols’ first game back

The St. Louis Cardinals unloaded on the Nationals in Albert Pujols’ first game back, scoring 29 runs in an absolute rout.

Cardinals fans know better than anyone the power of Albert Pujols over a baseball team. You could say they got a reminder of it on Wednesday when the team legend made his long-awaited return to action in a St. Louis jersey.

That’s because the Cardinals let it rip against the Nationals, scoring 29 runs against them in spring training.

Pujols didn’t have the greatest game, to be fair. He grounded into a double-play but still scored the first run of the game in the first inning in the process. Then things went off.

The Cardinals showed off their bats in Albert Pujols’ return

While Pujols ended up going 1-of-3 in his DH appearances, everyone else seemed to be showing off for the old veteran.

Paul DeJong was 3-for-3 with five RBI including back-to-back home runs. Yadier Molina and Josh Bell also went yard. Conner Capel drove in four. Alec Burleson brought home three.

Pujols is far from his prime but he proved with the Dodgers that he can still contribute on a contender. St. Louis is hoping for a similar impact with him back in the fold. Spring training is obviously just the beginning.

If nothing else, having him in the dugout should be a boost for the squad while having him back in a Cardinals jersey feels like a boost for the city too.

It was all the more special for St. Louis to welcome Pujols back with that kind of display considering what is going on in his family at the moment. His wife, Diedre, underwent surgery on Wednesday morning to remove a brain tumor.

Fortunately, Pujols was able to tell reporters after the game that the surgery went well.