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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 4:25 p.m., Sunday, April 1, 2007

Bring it on! Bonds ready for season, homers twice

By Janie McCauley
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Barry Bonds is swinging as if he's ready to go right after Hank Aaron's home run record.

His stroke is on -- so bring on the chase.

Bonds homered in each of his only two at-bats today in the San Francisco Giants' last exhibition game, an 8-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

''Unreal,'' said Giants starter Noah Lowry, who worked three innings in his final tuneup. ''The guy, he just looks healthy. When he's healthy, the results take care of themselves. Hopefully he can stay healthy all year and we get to see history in the making.''

Bonds hit a two-run shot over the right-field fence with one out in the first inning off left-hander Joe Kennedy, then connected again for a towering solo homer to left-center with one out in the third against Kennedy.

The homers gave the 42-year-old slugger, who didn't play yesterday against the A's, seven homers in 18 spring games. Bonds begins the 2007 season, his 22nd in the majors and 15th with the Giants, needing only 22 homers to break Hank Aaron's career record of 755.

''He seems locked in and confident,'' Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. ''That's usually a dangerous combo. I think he really feels good about his physical shape and how far he's come from last year.''

San Francisco opens the season at home Tuesday against the two-time reigning NL West champion San Diego Padres, and the A's were headed to Seattle for Monday's opener against the Mariners.