Bonds homers to aid Williams' win
By Greg Beacham
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds hit his 656th career homer and rookie Jerome Williams pitched seven strong innings as San Francisco closed in on the NL West title, beating San Diego, 4-2, last night and reducing its magic number for clinching a postseason berth to two.
Associated Press
Bonds' 43rd homer of the season — his third in four days — landed in the right-field stands in the fifth as the Giants won for the 12th time in 16 games to approach a rare wire-to-wire division title.
San Francisco rookie Jerome Williams put down a sacrifice bunt and held San Diego to four hits in seven innings.
San Francisco's win and the Los Angeles Dodgers' 3-2 loss to Arizona set up a possibly eventful day today: With another loss by the Dodgers and a victory over the Padres, the NL champions would wrap up their third playoff berth in four seasons.
The Giants have led the division since opening day. Only eight clubs have ever won a division or pennant without spending a day out of first place — most recently the Seattle Mariners in 2001.
"We know it's going to happen," manager Felipe Alou said. "It's just a matter of time."
Williams (7-4) pitched four-hit ball in one of his best starts of the season.
Before the game, Alou said the Waipahu High graduate would get a postseason start. Williams had just one victory in his previous 10 starts, but he has been consistent and durable — a rarity in the Giants' banged-up rotation.
He struck out five and retired 16 of 17 in the middle innings yesterday.
"I don't think (the playoffs) will change me at all," Williams said. "I can't let the emotion get to me in any start. I just block it out."
Williams lost his shutout on Khalil Greene's first major league homer on an 0-2 pitch leading off the eighth. Alou then removed him to a standing ovation, which Williams acknowledged with a sweep of his cap.
