Pujols energized for game six of MLB World Series

Three-time MVP Albert Pujols has been around baseball all his life, so nothing the Texas Rangers have done in the 2011 World Series surprises the Cardinals superstar. Hits have come at a premium for the St. Louis slugger ever since game three of the World Series, when he crushed three homers and had six RBI in a 16-7 rout of the Rangers. Since that 16-run performance, the Cardinals have scored just two runs in two games. They are behind 3-2 in the World Series and will be eliminated from the post-season with one more loss to the Rangers. "We are a tough team and we are not going to give up," said Pujols, speaking in front of his locker in the Cardinals clubhouse on Wednesday. "We are not going to play today so we have to be ready for tomorrow. We can't look at game seven before we play game six." St. Louis will have an extra day to get ready for game six after Major League Baseball officials decided to postpone Wednesday's contest to Thursday because of heavy rain forecasted for the St. Louis area. "The weather tomorrow is going to be cold but no rain so hopefully we can get a game in," said Pujols, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Cardinals are going to need Pujols to recapture his magic at the plate because they now have the difficult task of needing to win the next two games at home in order to capture their 11th title in franchise history. The Rangers took the bat out of Pujols' hands in game five, intentionally walking him three times. Pujols said when that happens, he has to look for other ways to help his team win. "It is part of the game," said Pujols, one of 14 players from the Dominican Republic in the World Series. "I have been dealing with it (walks) for nine years. That is why I prepare physically and mentally to play." Pujols said the rain postponement does not change the way he gets ready for a potential elimination game. "I am not a superstitious person," he said. "Today I just took some batting practice and lifted some weights. I will be ready to go tomorrow."