HOUSTON (AP) &045; One moment, the whole ballpark was buzzing. The next, it was silent.

With one mighty swing, Albert Pujols saved St. Louis and stunned the Houston Astros.

&8220;I’ve never heard 43,000 people shut up like that before,&8221; Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker said.

Pujols hit a prodigious three-run homer off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning and St. Louis rallied for a 5-4 victory Monday night in Game 5 of the NL championship series, denying Houston its first trip to the World Series.

Only one out away, the Astros were perched atop the dugout steps, ready to race onto the field for a wild celebration.

Only one problem &045; Pujols was at the plate.

&8220;I just couldn’t believe I did it,&8221; he said. &8220;Couldn’t be better than this.&8221;