ST. LOUIS - Larry Walker savored the moment - make that moments - from the top step of the St. Louis Cardinals' dugout.

Walker drew two curtain calls with a pair of homers and St. Louis tied a postseason record by hitting five home runs in an 8-3 victory over Odalis Perez and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League division series.

"I never had one in my career before I came to St. Louis, but it's kind of like old hat here," Walker said. "I wish you could experience it one time and see what it's like. It's quite amazing to tip your hat and have everybody cheer a little bit higher decibel level when you step on that top step."

Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Mike Matheny also homered to help the Cardinals tie the record for postseason homers set by the 1928 Yankees (World Series) and matched by the 1984 Cubs (NLCS) and 1989 Athletics (World Series).

Pujols, who hit 46 homers in the regular season, produced the game's first runs with a shot to left-center in the first off Perez. Walker, acquired from the Rockies in August and making his second career postseason appearance, started a five-run, third-inning surge - all with two outs - with a shot over the right-field wall.

After a two-run double by Edgar Renteria, Edmonds hit a two-run shot to right. Matheny connected in the fourth off Elmer Dessens, and Walker homered off Giovanni Carrara leading off the seventh.

"You can't defend home runs, that's for sure," Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said "And they hit a few of them today."

The Anaheim Angels decided to go with their best defensive lineup in Game 1 of the AL playoffs.The decision wound up aiding the visiting Boston offense.Third baseman Chone Figgins made a throwing error that led to five unearned runs in the fourth inning Tuesday, helping the Red Sox beat the Angels 9-3."It's tough to give a club as stacked offensively as they are extra outs, and I think we did," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Pedro Martinez will pitch against Anaheim's Bartolo Colon in Game 2 tonight as the Red Sox try to take a commanding 2-0 lead before the best-of-five division series moves to Boston.Scioscia said before the opener he wanted to start a strong defensive lineup. That meant Figgins would play third base and light-hitting Alfredo Amezaga would play second for the injured Adam Kennedy.Had Scioscia opted for more offense, Figgins would have played second and rookie Dallas McPherson third.That's a possibility for Game 2.The Red Sox led 3-0 and had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth against losing pitcher Jarrod Washburn when Johnny Damon hit a grounder just to the left of Figgins, who fielded it cleanly. But going for the force at home, he was far off target with his throw.Two runs scored on the error. One out later, Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer off Scot Shields to cap a seven-run burst and make it 8-0.Even with Boston's Curt Schilling not at his best, the outcome was decided."We make that play and they score two runs instead of seven," Washburn said. "If that play gets made by Figgy - and he makes that play nine times out of 10 - it would have been a different game."The Angels are in a familiar place, having lost series openers to the Yankees, Twins and Giants two years ago before rebounding to beat those teams en route to the World Series championship."Hopefully we can bounce back like we did then," Washburn said.Schilling gave up nine hits and three runs, two earned, and allowed at least one baserunner in every inning. He walked two and struck out four in 6 2/3 innings.The 37-year-old right-hander entered with a 5-1 record and a 1.66 ERA in 11 previous postseason appearances.