A blast for Bonds, but Reds prevail
CINCINNATI -- In the same city where Hank Aaron completed his quest, Barry Bonds came out hammering.
Swinging at the first three pitches he saw, Bonds connected on his third try for homer No. 751 last night. He's now four shy of Aaron's record following the San Francisco Giants' 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
"He's a guy that people were saying, 'Is Father Time catching up with him?' " manager Bruce Bochy said.
Instead, Bonds got closer to catching Aaron in the city where Hammerin' Hank hit No. 714, tying Babe Ruth's previous mark. That record-book homer on Opening Day 1974 landed at Riverfront Stadium, which has since been demolished.
Aaron's record soon will be, too.
"I'm playing pretty good for an old guy," the 42-year-old Bonds said. "I just wish we were playing better as a team."
So do the Reds, who have the major leagues' worst record and newest manager.
Brandon Phillips's grand slam gave Pete Mackanin a victory in his debut as Cincinnati's interim manager. Mackanin was promoted from advance scout after Jerry Narron was fired Sunday night.
The fans came to experience something more significant.
Bonds's homer on his third swing of the game drew loud and prolonged boos from the crowd of 37,299, a reminder that fans outside San Francisco view his record chase through the prism of baseball's steroid scandal.
Like it or not, he's closing in.
"Yeah, it's a little closer," Bonds said. "Can I feel it? No. I can feel 751 right now. I can't feel 755. I can feel 751 -- feels good."
Bonds's second career homer off Aaron Harang (9-2) was the master stroke in a sloppy game between last-place teams. They combined for 14 walks, two hit batters, and a wild pitch.
Giants lefthander Barry Zito didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning -- and didn't throw many strikes, either. He walked five batters in a 44-pitch fourth inning, including Edwin Encarnacion and Alex Gonzalez with the bases loaded.
Phillips put the Reds ahead to stay with his second career grand slam in the sixth off Kevin Correia (1-4).
The game had an intriguing subplot: A rare matchup of famed home run hitters in Bonds and Ken Griffey.
Bonds and the 37-year-old Griffey have been friends for most of their careers, sons of famous fathers.
Griffey flied out and walked three times, leaving him with 585 career homers.
"1-0, me against Junior," Bonds teased.
It was the first time since Aug. 1, 1976, that two players with so many homers played in the same game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Cleveland's Frank Robinson (586) and Milwaukee's Aaron (755) played in that one.
