Bonds rips 2 in Giants' loss

CHICAGO -- Barry Bonds knows it's real now.

His worst slump is over and Hank Aaron's record can't be far behind.

Bonds moved within two home runs of Aaron's mark yesterday, sending No. 752 over the right-field bleachers on the first pitch, and his 753d into the basket on the wall in left-center.

He broke out of his longest offensive funk (0 for 21) in six years on a pair of rested legs.

The San Francisco slugger returned to the starting lineup for the first time in four games after letting his sore lower body recover, though his two homers weren't enough for the Giants in a 9-8 loss to the Cubs.

In case Bonds had somehow forgotten what he was chasing, the commemorative balls being used when he bats are providing constant reminders.

"It's real now," Bonds said in a makeshift dugout press conference at Wrigley Field. "I had to get over them switching those baseballs. Any time that happens, I kind of go into a slide. It's tough because you actually really realize something's going on and you don't really want to think about it. "

Today, the quest moves to Miller Park in Milwaukee, the city where Aaron started and ended his career. It's also the home of commissioner Bud Selig, who hasn't said whether he'll be in the seats as Bonds attempts to make history.

Bonds (3 for 3) sent the first pitch from Cubs starter Ted Lilly (10-4) high over the right-field fence leading off the second -- and it was the first drive to reach Sheffield Avenue all season. Then he homered again in the seventh, a three-run shot off Will Ohman.

Bonds's second homer got the Giants within 9-8 and gave him six RBIs on the day, his most since driving in six Sept. 22 at Milwaukee.