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Bonds hits No. 67 in win

Associated Press

Barry Bonds went 1-for-3 with two walks and a home run in San Francisco's 2-1 win over Los Angeles. Associated Press

Livan Hernandez pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, yesterday in the opener of the three-game series.

"That's what we play for — wins," Bonds said. "It'll be fun if we win the next two."

McGwire set the single-season record of 70 homers three years ago. Bonds was 1-for-3 with two walks, one intentional, and the homer was off James Baldwin (2-5) in the seventh inning.

"Barry will probably win the MVP this year, especially with the amount of homers he's hit that meant something," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "That bears a lot of weight with me. It's not only numbers, but when you hit them."

Baldwin intentionally walked Bonds in the fifth before pitching to him in the seventh. Baldwin's first pitch was a slider, followed by two fastballs. Bonds connected on a 91-mph fastball.

"I made a mistake and he made me pay for it," Baldwin said. "That's why he's got 67 home runs. But we've just got to keep attacking him."

The homer came in the Giants' 151st game. McGwire hit his 67th in St. Louis' 162nd game. The Cardinals played 163 games that season because one game was suspended by rain.