Bonds doesn't homer, but sets record for walks
Associated Press
HOUSTON — Barry Bonds set a record. But not the one he wanted.
Associated Press
Bonds broke Babe Ruth's walks mark instead of making home run history in front of frustrated fans, scoring three times last night as the San Francisco Giants pounded the faltering Houston Astros, 11-8.
Barry Bonds, left, walked three times to break Babe Ruth's mark for walks in season with 172.
After striking out chasing rookie Tim Redding's 96-mph fastball in the first inning, Bonds drew three straight four-pitch walks while the record crowd of 43,630 at Enron Field booed the Astros' tactics.
Bonds' two daughters even held up a sign that read: "Pitch to Our Daddy."
Were the Astros afraid of him?
"It seems that way," Bonds said.
Countered Redding: "If he thinks we're cowardly for walking him, maybe he's a little high on himself.
"We're not out here to set major league records, we're here to win ballgames," Redding said. "The fans are here to see something special. I'd like to see if he could do it, too. But I'm not a guy that's going to give it to him. He's got to earn it."
In a strange twist in the ninth, the crowd began chanting "Barry! Barry!" when he came out on deck, hoping to see him get one last chance to match Mark McGwire's record of 70 home runs. The fans booed when Rich Aurilia grounded out, ending the inning.
Bonds has four games remaining to match McGwire's record.
He walked right past Ruth's total of 170 set in 1923, and finished the night with 172. He hit an RBI single in the eighth inning and the ballpark began clearing out.
"Babe Ruth didn't have 170 walks for nothing," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "That was 1923, and we're still playing baseball the same way."
The timing would have been perfect for Bonds to homer — it was the 50th anniversary of Bobby Thomson's playoff "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Bonds was subbed out after the top of the ninth, and Houston scored five runs in the bottom half before falling short.
