Posted at 12:29 p.m., Sunday, May 27, 2007
Giants' Bonds hits 746th homer, 9 shy of Aaron's mark
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds broke out of a lengthy home run slump today, hitting his 746th career homer in the sixth inning against Colorado to pull within nine of Hank Aaron's career record 755.Bonds hesitated slightly to watch the 2-1 pitch from Taylor Buchholz sail over the center-field wall for his 12th homer of the year and first in 15 games since a shot off the Mets' Tom Glavine on May 8. The two-run shot pulled the Giants within 4-3.
Bonds rounded the bases as "746" flashed on the main scoreboard and he received a big hug from bat-boy son, Nikolai, after crossing home. Fans began chanting "Barry! Barry!"
Buchholz became the 439th different pitcher to surrender a home run to the seven-time NL MVP, who earlier ended an 0-for-17 stretch with a leadoff single in the fourth.
Bonds went 14 games without a homer or an RBI, the second-longest RBI drought of his 22-year career. He had gone five games without a hit.
Bonds, who turns 43 on July 24, went 43 at-bats and 63 plate appearances without a homer. During that stretch since the homer, Bonds had drawn 20 walks with seven intentional free passes, struck out eight times and was batting .140 (6-for-43).
