WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Two days after rejoining the Cardinals for his second stint with the club, Albert Pujols found himself in the starting lineup in a 29-8 rout of the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon.

It felt like old times when the lineup card came out. Pujols was hitting fourth as the designated hitter and he went 1-for-3.

“It feels good to be back in a real game,” Pujols said. “I feel competitive facing big league pitching. It feels good to be back in a big league uniform, back with [catcher] Yadi [Molina] and some of the guys. Just [a] great group of guys. Hopefully we can have a great time this year.”

A lot of Cardinals fans traveled to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to catch the living legend in action. In Pujols' first at-bat against Nationals right-hander Aníbal Sánchez, the bases were loaded when Pujols grounded into a double play, though Dylan Carlson scored on the play to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Pujols popped up to third baseman Maikel Franco with two runners on base.

It was two innings later, with Sánchez still on the mound, when Pujols notched his first hit of the spring, singling to right field before being replaced by pinch-runner Mack Chambers.

"Besides being on different teams, we are friends,” Sánchez said. “It's fun seeing him on the field. I've been facing Pujols since, I don't know, 2006, and still here? That's a good vibe."

Pujols was given a standing ovation -- one of many -- as he headed toward the Cardinals clubhouse in right field. As he approached the clubhouse, he was greeted by Nationals outfielder Juan Soto. The two superstars hugged and Pujols gave Soto the two bats he was carrying.

Pujols played the game thinking about his wife, Deidre, who had a brain tumor removed Wednesday morning. The tumor was discovered back in October. Deidre is expected to make a full recovery. 

“When I went to visit with the doctor, he said, ‘It's not really like a major thing,’” Pujols said. “But any time you open your scalp and your head, you are always concerned about it. You trust the doctor that they have that wisdom and that gift. As much as we take swings in the cage, they do surgery.” 

It looked right to see Pujols in the uniform. After all, his biggest success came in Cardinals red. The last time he played in a Cardinals uniform prior to Wednesday’s action was Oct. 28, 2011, when the Cardinals won the World Series in seven games over the Rangers.

Manager Oliver Marmol was willing to insert Pujols into the lineup so quickly because Pujols had productive workouts the previous two days. On Monday, Pujols worked in the batting cage. The next day, he took fielding practice and had another round in the cage.

“He had a good day in the cage and [I] felt like a couple of at-bats made sense today,” Marmol said.

According to Marmol, the Cardinals have not decided if Pujols will be on the Opening Day roster, but it is expected to be announced soon. With about a week to go, Pujols is expected to see time as the DH and at first base.