NEW YORK -- Back in New York for the final time in the regular season, Albert Pujols started Wednesday night’s game against the Mets and left with another career milestone in an 11-4 loss at Citi Field.

With hits in his first two plate appearances against Mets right-hander Max Scherzer, the Cardinals slugger increased his career total to 3,314 to pass Eddie Collins for 10th on the all-time hits list, according to Elias Sports Bureau, the official statistician of Major League Baseball.

Pujols started his night with a two-run single that skipped off the first-base bag in the second inning, scoring Corey Dickerson and Dylan Carlson to tie the game 2-2. Even though he is coming off the bench, Pujols has left an impression on some of his young teammates.

“It’s awesome. Watching Albert and his process every day has been the best. I tried to learn as much as I can,” said teammate Brendan Donovan.

Asked what is the biggest thing he has learned from Pujols, Donovan said, “Just his preparation, the way that he thinks about the game, his adjustments before and during mid-at bats. After at-bats, he is always watching films. It’s impressive.”

Then in the fourth, Pujols blooped a base hit into center field.

“Playing [in New York], we knew it was going to be a fun environment, seeing him come through is pretty typical for Albert. It was good to see,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.

As a bonus, when Scherzer paid no attention to Pujols, he broke early on a pitch to Yadier Molina and stole second base without a throw. Pujols has now stolen 117 bases in his career.

“I asked him in the training room, ‘What are you seeing?’ He said, ‘They are not paying attention to me. They just keep doing the same thing. I get the early jump,'” Cardinals right-hander Jordan Hicks said.

Due to discrepancies in historical record-keeping, accounts of Collins' career hits total differ. Elias recognizes Collins as having 3,313 hits, while other sources -- including MLB.com -- credit him with 3,314 hits.