CINCINNATI (AP) -- Albert Pujols hit a pair of solo home runs Saturday night, and the St. Louis Cardinals matched their season high with four homers in all during a 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that extended their winning streak to four games.

Skip Schumaker started the barrage with a three-run shot off struggling Aaron Harang (3-13), hit hard in both of his starts since he came off the disabled list. Ryan Ludwick also had a two-run homer, and Pujols hit the first of his two off Harang as well.

The Cardinals' winning streak is one shy of their season high. St. Louis has won six of its last eight overall, staying right behind Milwaukee in the NL wild-card race.

Joel Pineiro (6-5) improved to 3-0 in August and remained unbeaten in his career against the Reds. Pinch-hitter Andy Phillips and Brandon Phillips hit solo homers off Pineiro, who went six innings.

Cincinnati has come unhinged in the season's second half, losing 17 of its last 21 games. The Reds have dropped their last eight at Great American Ball Park, their worst such slump since it opened in 2003. They haven't been this bad at home since 2001, when they dropped nine in a row at Cinergy Field.

For the second start in a row, Harang didn't give them much of a chance.

The right-hander was sidelined from July 13 to Aug. 9 with a sore right forearm. He returned last Sunday and gave up three homers and a career-high eight earned runs in only four innings of a 13-4 loss in Houston.

His next attempt had a nearly identical outcome.

Schumaker's three-run homer helped the Cardinals pull ahead 5-1 in the second inning. Pujols homered in the third, and Ludwick ended Harang's outing with his two-run homer in the fourth -- his 31st of the season -- for an 8-1 lead. Pujols followed with his 26th homer off Gary Majewski, his third multihomer game of the season.

The 13 losses match Harang's career high from 2005, when he went 11-13 in his first season with Cincinnati. He's two behind Barry Zito for most losses in the NL.

Pineiro improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Reds. He has given up only six earned runs in those four starts, covering 24 1-3 innings.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)