Tony La Russa said Tuesday that Albert Pujols has earned the authority and responsibility to call for a hit-and-run if the first baseman thinks it's the right play. La Russa has allowed other players to do so in the past and Pujols has been doing for several years. "When you have a player that really understands the game, that player gets a lot of leeway and ability to be involved, based on how he's reading what's going on," La Russa said. "It happens to pitchers that are really smart, Tom Seaver. It happens to catchers when the benches are defending the running games. ... Albert has the ability on this club, for several years, to put a hit-and-run on." In Monday night's Game 5 of the World Series, with the game was tied at two with one out in the seventh inning, Pujols sent Allen Craig running from first base. Pujols let go a pitch from the Alexi Ogando that was high and well outside, and Craig was thrown out easily at second.