Post by Diamond Girl on Sept 18, 2004 14:51:48 GMT -5
Bonds Joins Aaron, Ruth in 700-Homer Club
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO - As Barry Bonds' numbers rise, the words to describe them become less adequate. When the slugger hit his 700th homer, only daughter Aisha could sum up the history and majesty of the blast. "My dad is the best player," the 5-year-old said.
Bonds connected in the third inning of San Francisco's' 4-1 victory over San Diego on Friday night, leading the Giants to their sixth straight win in the opener of their final nine-game homestand.
With a 392-foot solo shot to left-center, Bonds became the first new member of the 700 club in 31 years, joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.
Bonds was happy to do it at home in front of godfather Willie Mays and his adoring fans, but he claims he still can't believe what he's doing to baseball's record books.
"It's just unbelievable," Bonds said. "You really can't put it into words to be in a class with those two great players. It's like you're dreaming and you're not dreaming. It's unbelievable, it's unreal."
Bonds' 42nd homer of the season is another steppingstone in the 40-year-old's march toward Ruth's once-unthinkable 714 and Aaron's imposing 755. Bonds hasn't been slowed by age, steroid suspicions or the collective fear of pitchers and managers walking him with record frequency.
Yet Bonds still clings to the hope of adding a World Series title to his accomplishments, and this victory kept the Giants (83-65) in front of the Cubs (81-64) by a half-game in the NL wild-card race.
"I have game left, and it's just really hard to fathom that I've hit 700 home runs and I can still play and still contribute," he said. "I just don't want to get satisfied, get too caught up into it all. Right now, I really want to focus on completing my career and, hopefully, coming back to the World Series."
As Bonds rounded second base, the Giants launched streamers and an elaborate fireworks display from the scoreboard and light towers in center field. He pointed skyward as he crossed home plate, then took a curtain call to a joyous standing ovation.
With the victory, San Francisco also kept pressure on the Dodgers, who lead the Giants by 2 1/2 games in the NL West. Third-place San Diego lost another chance to make up ground, falling 6 1/2 games behind Los Angeles.
Rookie Noah Lowry pitched 6 2-3 strong innings to remain unbeaten in the majors. But Bonds dominated yet another night at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark, which has seen more than its share of history during the latter years of Bonds' career.
Bonds hit just one homer on the Giants' recent eight-game trip, reaching 699 in Arizona. He got to work quickly back home: Instead of dunking another homer in the kayak-infested waters of McCovey Cove, Bonds went to the opposite field on an 0-1 slider from Jake Peavy.
"The good thing is I get to sleep now and stop having nightmares about this," Bonds said.
Bonds' homer of the season increased San Francisco's lead to 4-0. He has hit 79 homers against San Diego _ 18 more than any other opponent _ but manager Bruce Bochy promised to pitch to the slugger if game conditions dictated it during the key three-game series.
"I hate to see something like this come against us in a game so important," Bochy said. "But it's a terrific accomplishment. There's a sense of history. He's maybe the greatest hitter ever in the game."
Bonds finished 1-for-3 with a fly to right and a seventh-inning strikeout against Peavy.
Bonds hit his 500th, 600th, 660th and 661st homers in San Francisco. The 5-year-old park also was the site of his 73rd homer in 2001, capping his single-season record.
Lowry also got a standing ovation when he left the game after Rich Aurilia drove home the Padres' first run with a seventh-inning double.
Lowry allowed five hits and two walks. he is off to the best start ever for a San Francisco pitcher, surpassing Juan Marichal's 4-0 start in 1960.
"It's an honor to be part of this game," Lowry said.
After Dave Burba got four outs, Dustin Hermanson pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.
The Giants scored three runs in the first inning against Peavy (12-6), who hit Bonds and J.T. Snow during the rally. A.J. Pierzynski had a run-scoring single, and Marquis Grissom got a sacrifice fly.
Peavy allowed eight hits and struck out seven in seven innings, but couldn't overcome his rocky first. After going unbeaten in nine starts this summer, Peavy has lost three of four.
Alex Gonzalez went 0-for-2 and played errorless defense at shortstop in his debut with the Padres, who acquired him from Montreal on Thursday to help out their injury-plagued infield.
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO - As Barry Bonds' numbers rise, the words to describe them become less adequate. When the slugger hit his 700th homer, only daughter Aisha could sum up the history and majesty of the blast. "My dad is the best player," the 5-year-old said.
Bonds connected in the third inning of San Francisco's' 4-1 victory over San Diego on Friday night, leading the Giants to their sixth straight win in the opener of their final nine-game homestand.
With a 392-foot solo shot to left-center, Bonds became the first new member of the 700 club in 31 years, joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.
Bonds was happy to do it at home in front of godfather Willie Mays and his adoring fans, but he claims he still can't believe what he's doing to baseball's record books.
"It's just unbelievable," Bonds said. "You really can't put it into words to be in a class with those two great players. It's like you're dreaming and you're not dreaming. It's unbelievable, it's unreal."
Bonds' 42nd homer of the season is another steppingstone in the 40-year-old's march toward Ruth's once-unthinkable 714 and Aaron's imposing 755. Bonds hasn't been slowed by age, steroid suspicions or the collective fear of pitchers and managers walking him with record frequency.
Yet Bonds still clings to the hope of adding a World Series title to his accomplishments, and this victory kept the Giants (83-65) in front of the Cubs (81-64) by a half-game in the NL wild-card race.
"I have game left, and it's just really hard to fathom that I've hit 700 home runs and I can still play and still contribute," he said. "I just don't want to get satisfied, get too caught up into it all. Right now, I really want to focus on completing my career and, hopefully, coming back to the World Series."
As Bonds rounded second base, the Giants launched streamers and an elaborate fireworks display from the scoreboard and light towers in center field. He pointed skyward as he crossed home plate, then took a curtain call to a joyous standing ovation.
With the victory, San Francisco also kept pressure on the Dodgers, who lead the Giants by 2 1/2 games in the NL West. Third-place San Diego lost another chance to make up ground, falling 6 1/2 games behind Los Angeles.
Rookie Noah Lowry pitched 6 2-3 strong innings to remain unbeaten in the majors. But Bonds dominated yet another night at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark, which has seen more than its share of history during the latter years of Bonds' career.
Bonds hit just one homer on the Giants' recent eight-game trip, reaching 699 in Arizona. He got to work quickly back home: Instead of dunking another homer in the kayak-infested waters of McCovey Cove, Bonds went to the opposite field on an 0-1 slider from Jake Peavy.
"The good thing is I get to sleep now and stop having nightmares about this," Bonds said.
Bonds' homer of the season increased San Francisco's lead to 4-0. He has hit 79 homers against San Diego _ 18 more than any other opponent _ but manager Bruce Bochy promised to pitch to the slugger if game conditions dictated it during the key three-game series.
"I hate to see something like this come against us in a game so important," Bochy said. "But it's a terrific accomplishment. There's a sense of history. He's maybe the greatest hitter ever in the game."
Bonds finished 1-for-3 with a fly to right and a seventh-inning strikeout against Peavy.
Bonds hit his 500th, 600th, 660th and 661st homers in San Francisco. The 5-year-old park also was the site of his 73rd homer in 2001, capping his single-season record.
Lowry also got a standing ovation when he left the game after Rich Aurilia drove home the Padres' first run with a seventh-inning double.
Lowry allowed five hits and two walks. he is off to the best start ever for a San Francisco pitcher, surpassing Juan Marichal's 4-0 start in 1960.
"It's an honor to be part of this game," Lowry said.
After Dave Burba got four outs, Dustin Hermanson pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.
The Giants scored three runs in the first inning against Peavy (12-6), who hit Bonds and J.T. Snow during the rally. A.J. Pierzynski had a run-scoring single, and Marquis Grissom got a sacrifice fly.
Peavy allowed eight hits and struck out seven in seven innings, but couldn't overcome his rocky first. After going unbeaten in nine starts this summer, Peavy has lost three of four.
Alex Gonzalez went 0-for-2 and played errorless defense at shortstop in his debut with the Padres, who acquired him from Montreal on Thursday to help out their injury-plagued infield.
