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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, June 18, 2007

Bonds homers in Giants' 9-5 loss

By Jimmy Golen
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Francisco's Barry Bonds celebrates his home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield in the sixth inning.

WINSLOW TOWNSEND | Associated Press

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BOSTON — Barry Bonds added baseball's oldest ballpark to his longball list and was back on his way to the sport's most hallowed record.

The San Francisco slugger hit his 748th career homer in Boston's 9-5 victory over the Giants yesterday, adding Fenway Park, the Red Sox and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to his scrapbook and moving within seven of Hank Aaron's mark.

"I thought it was a popup, and I turned around and saw J.D. (Drew) just keep going back, further and further and further," said Wakefield, the 441st pitcher to feed Bonds' home run habit. "He put a good swing on it, and I'm sure he's put a lot of swings on a lot of other pitchers."

The last time Bonds homered off a knuckler was when he hit No. 73 of 2001 off Los Angeles Dodger Dennis Springer to establish the single-season record. Bonds had been hitless in eight at-bats against Wakefield, even joking that the pitches were too slow to hit hard.

"I think my age got me slower so I'm more able to time it a bit better," Bonds said with a smile after going 2 for 3. "I tip my cap to him, he came after me in every at-bat. He gave me something to hit."

But his sixth-inning solo shot merely cut Boston's lead to 8-4, and Manny Ramirez padded the lead with his second homer in as many games. Ramirez was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, David Ortiz had a pair of doubles, and Wakefield (7-7) pitched well before faltering in the sixth to help the Red Sox complete the three-game sweep.

"I was fortunate enough to pitch to him where a home run didn't bother us too much," said Wakefield, who allowed five runs and eight hits with a walk, striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. "It's great to walk away from this homestand 4-2. To sweep San Francisco was special."

Playing in just his sixth career game, Nate Schierholtz, a former Hawaii Winter Baseball player, had three hits, including his first career triple.

Bonds has now homered in 36 ballparks, adding Fenway to the list in his third game at the ballpark that was the first home of the first man to top 700 homers. Bonds passed Babe Ruth and his 714 total last year, and resumed his pursuit of Aaron's 755 with 11 homers in his first 76 at-bats this year; but he has just three in 91 at-bats since.

Matt Morris (7-4) lasted just four innings for San Francisco, allowing eight runs and nine hits. He walked two and struck out two.