Bonds one from HR record
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — The tears had turned to smiles, but the story was the same — yet another home run by Barry Bonds, moving him within one of the record Mark Mc-Gwire set just three seasons ago.
Through yesterday Homers Bonds 69 Next: vs. San Diego, today Career home run leaders Player No. 1. Hank Aaron 755
Bonds led off the sixth inning with his 69th homer, splashing a shot estimated at 437 feet into San Francisco Bay and leading the Giants to a 3-1 win yesterday over the San Diego Padres.
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Bonds watch
155 Games
McGwire 64
(x-active)
2. Babe Ruth 714
3. Willie Mays 660
4. Frank Robinson 586
5. x-Mark McGwire 582
6. Harmon Killebrew 573
7. Reggie Jackson 563
tie x-Barry Bonds 563
Unlike Friday night, when he wept in the dugout after hitting No. 68 while mourning the death of a friend, Bonds joked with teammates and then smiled broadly as fans saluted him in left field a few minutes later.
"Yesterday, I did something for a friend, and I was able to let it go after that," Bonds said. "Today, go back to work, try to keep winning."
The solo shot was the 563rd homer of Bonds' career, tying Reggie Jackson for seventh on the career list. Bonds has five homers in his last six games.
The drive splashed into McCovey Cove, a part of the bay named for former Giants slugger Willie McCovey just behind the right-field wall. Boaters, kayakers and surfers battled for the ball in the murky water.
"It's not that easy to hit home runs, and it's like he's playing in a Little League park right now," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's just a wrecking crew. There's no way to get him out."
The win allowed the Giants to stay two games behind NL West leader Arizona, which won 8-1 at home over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants are three games behind St. Louis, which defeated Pittsburgh, in the wild card race.
Bonds homered on a 2-1 pitch off left-hander Chuck McElroy, who was facing his first batter after relieving Brett Jodie to start the sixth inning. Bonds had been 2-for-32 against McElroy with six strikeouts and only one home run.
"I tried to get him out with the same pitch as always. I wanted it outside, but it came back over," McElroy said. "Now you can see it in his eyes. He's hungry and he's trying to get his team into the playoffs."
Bonds, who put the Giants ahead 2-1, stopped after he touched home plate to point skyward.
Bonds went 1-for-3 and has seven games left to surpass McGwire's mark.
