Paul White

USA TODAY Sports

WASHINGTON – Albert Pujols reached the biggest milestone of his career with authority.

And he even had the nerve to forecast his two-homer night - culminating in No. 500 over his storied career - hours before it happened.

Pujols became the 26th player and third-youngest to hit No. 500 when he connected for his second of Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals' Taylor Jordan.

That's exactly what he told teammate Erick Aybar he planned to do – right down to his five RBI – while then were in the batting cage before the game.

"Hell, yeah," Aybar said when asked if he believed his rejuvenated teammate. "He said he was 0-for-5 last night and he was going to hit two homers and get five RBI tonight."

Pujols' homers were his seventh and eighth this season to give him the major league lead a season after he hit a career-low 17. His five RBI give him 18 in his past 13 games.

"The last couple of years have been pretty tough," Pujols said.

As for No. 500?

Probably the best swing," he said, "I've taken this year."

Pujols' 500th went into the seats in left-center field at National Park with Mike Trout on first base, gave Pujols five RBI for the night and the Angels a 6-2 lead in their 7-2 victory.

"He's squaring balls up," Trout said. "That's the Albert I'm used to seeing. I was speechless – history in front of my eyes. I'm getting chills thinking about it."

This is as promising a return as Pujols has given the Angels since 2012, the first year of the 10-year, $240 million he signed. He's making $23 million this season, a number that grows by a million each year through 2021.

He says it's the best he's felt since 2012.

"I have seven more years to go," Pujols said. "I pray I can stay healthy.

Pujols hit 30 homers and drove in 105 runs in 2012 but was limited by injuries – most notably plantar fasciitis – to 99 games last season. In his 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, he led the National League twice in homers and topped 40 six times, including a career-high 49 in 2006.

He said that among the calls he'll make after the milestone are to Tony La Russa and Walt Jocketty, his initial manager and general manager with the Cardinals.

But a call to his wife was first.

And it turned out she missed the homer because she was at a salon getting her nails done.

"Did you just hit your 500th?" was her greeting when he called, Pujols said.

"Everybody was congratulating her," he said.

Only Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx got to 500 sooner than Pujols, who is 34 years and 96 days old. Rodriguez was 32 years, 8 days when he got to 500 in 2007. Foxx was 32 years, 338 days when he got there in 1940.

Pujols hit No. 499 to stake the Angels to a 3-0 lead three batters into the game against Jordan, a line drive just inside the left-field foul pole. He's the first player to hit Nos. 499 and 500 in the same game. He also hit No. 400 in the same ballpark.

Pujols is the first player in five seasons to reach 500. When Gary Sheffield, the most recent new member of the club got his on April 17, 2009, he capped a stretch in which eight players got to 500 in a span of six seasons.

He becomes the 12th player with 500 career homers, 500 doubles and 1,500 RBI, joining Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Eddie Murray, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson,Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez and Rodriguez.

"Now we need to start on the next milestone," Pujols said, but as he told his teammates after the game, that one is a championship.