Bonds pulls even
Giants slugger ties Aaron for all-time home run crown
SAN DIEGO -- A sea of flashbulbs resembled flickering asterisks while a mixed chorus of jeers and cheers reflected the split emotions at Petco Park and around the nation last night when Barry Bonds launched his 755th career home run in the second inning against San Diego Padres pitcher Clay Hensley, tying Hank Aaron for first on the all-time list.
On a day Bonds took about 120 swings in early extra batting practice, the effort showed in his first at-bat when the San Francisco Giants slugger connected on a 2-and-1 fastball at 7:29 PST, sending it off the facade of the second deck in left field against a "San Diego" sign, the ball bouncing into the first deck of bleachers where a 33-year-old man from La Jolla, Calif., retrieved the expensive keepsake.
Bonds's legacy will likely be questioned for as long as he holds the all-time home run record because of the steroid allegations surrounding him, although Bonds has never tested positive for steroids since the advent of testing in major league baseball.
Booed at the beginning of the historic at-bat by a sellout crowd of 42,497, the boos partially turned to cheers as Bonds, choking up on a maple bat taped to the point where it thickens, produced a quick, inside-out swing and watched the path of his 21st home run of the season.
He circled the bases with his head down as flashbulbs sparkled and the crowd began to embrace the moment. Bonds was greeted at home plate by his 17-year-old son, Nikolai, a Giants bat boy who jumped into his father's arms and was carried toward the dugout, where Bonds's teammates had lined up to offer congratulations.
One of the first to greet Bonds with a hand extended and a wide smile was former Red Sox center fielder Dave Roberts.
The ball was caught by Adam Hughes, who was sitting in the left-field lower box, Section 130, Row 1, Seat 18, and was attending the game with his cousin. The ball was immediately authenticated by a representative of Major League Baseball.
The Padres players on the field did not acknowledge Bonds, though Hensley stood behind the mound to allow Bonds his moment before he toed the rubber again. The Petco Park scoreboard barely recognized the feat, though it did list the all-time home run leaders with Bonds and Aaron tied.
Commissioner Bud Selig, who sat in one of the luxury boxes, issued a statement in the ninth inning, saying, "Congratulations to Barry Bonds as he ties Major League Baseball's home run record. No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds's achievement is noteworthy and remarkable."
Selig added, "As I said previously, out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, either I or a representative of my office will attend the next few games and make every attempt to observe the breaking of the all-time home run record."
Aaron had held the record since surpassing Babe Ruth April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Jeff Idelson of the Baseball Hall of Fame was on hand to collect as much paraphernalia from the at-bat as Bonds would allow. Bonds has told the Hall he will cooperate in donating various items.
The home run came in Bonds's 9,768th career at-bat and was his 2,912d hit and 1,980th RBI. Hensley became the 445th pitcher to serve up a home run to Bonds.
The home run, which sailed 382 feet, came on the same day Bonds's friend, Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, hit his 500th homer, off Royals starter Kyle Davies during a 16-8 win at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez had gone 10 days between homers No. 499 and 500. Bonds's drought was at eight days since connecting for No. 754 against the Marlins' Rick Vanden Hurk.
Bonds had been a little anxious at the plate recently, though he had 10 pretty hard swings in three at-bats against Greg Maddux Friday night. In a rare spectacle yesterday afternoon, Bonds, wearing a black Giants T-shirt and shorts, took 45 minutes of early extra batting practice, working on hitting to all fields with hitting coach Joe Lefebvre and manager Bruce Bochy, who pitched for the majority of Bonds's swings.
He took 11 rounds of BP and hit 19 home runs almost equally distributed to all fields. Bonds seemed exhausted by the end and didn't come out for regular batting practice, choosing to nap instead.
"Barry just came out and tried to work on some things. He felt he was pulling off the ball," Bochy said. "It's unusual for Barry to come out for early BP, but he felt the way things were going he needed to work on some things."
Judging from how he looked in the BP session, there was a feeling around the cage that Bonds was going to end his drought last night. They were right, and it didn't take long.
Bonds was 2 for 11 in his career against Hensley, who had come off the disabled list (strained groin) July 25 and was just 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA this season. Hensley lasted only 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs in his first start since May 2. Hensley, coincidentally, was suspended in 2005 for using a performance-enhancing substance as a Padres minor leaguer.
Hensley, who had allowed only three home runs in 34 2/3 innings entering the game, walked Bonds in the fourth and fifth innings, and reliever Heath Bell issued another free pass in the eighth, after which Bonds was replaced by pinch runner Rajai Davis. San Diego won, 3-2, in 12 innings.
Before each at-bat, the boos were directed at Bonds. After the walks, the boos were for the Padres pitchers.
Bonds had been angered by recent reports that he did not want to tie or break the record away from San Francisco. He proved last night that wasn't the case. But it is expected that Bochy will give Bonds the day off for today's matinee series finale in San Diego, meaning Bonds's next chance to break the record will come tomorrow, when the Giants open a homestand against the Nationals and Pirates. 