Pujols' stats see him edge Howard for MVP

NEW YORK: St Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols won the National League Most Valuable Player award on Monday.

Pujols, who also won MVP honors in 2005, garnered 18 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and collected a total of 369 points.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, the 2006 MVP, was second after receiving 12 first-place votes and 308 points.