Saturday, June 16, 2001
Bonds on pace for 86 homers
Giants slugger already has 36
By Rob Gloster
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds is more than halfway to Mark McGwire's record after hitting his 35th and 36th homers of the season Friday night.
The San Francisco slugger put himself 12 games ahead of McGwire's record pace and led the Giants to a 3-1 victory over the neighboring Oakland Athletics.
Bonds' 36 homers have come in the Giants' first 67 games. McGwire hit his 36th homer in the St. Louis Cardinals' 79th game when he set the record of 70 homers in 1998.
“He's an unbelievable hitter,” said Mark Mulder, who gave up both solo homers. “You'd think you can make a mistake to him once in a while, but he hits every one of them.”
Bonds, who went 3-for-3 Friday night with an infield single in the third and a walk in the eighth, needs one more homer in the next 3 1/2 weeks to tie the record for home runs before the All-Star break.
“I could be stuck at 36 until the All-Star break,” Bonds warned.
Bonds has 21 homers in his last 25 games, and has homered in six of his last seven games at Pacific Bell Park.
It was the 50th multihomer game of Bonds' career, moving him into sole possession of seventh place in that category. He was tied with Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott with 49. It was Bonds' fourth such game this season.
He is just the fourth major leaguer to have 35 homers before the All-Star break. McGwire and Reggie Jackson (1969) had 37 homers at the All-Star break, while Ken Griffey Jr. had 35 at the break in 1998.
“Barry continues to amaze us. This is an incredible thing,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said. “He's in it right now, it's an awesome thing to see.”
Shawn Estes (6-2) allowed one run on four hits in seven innings, lowering his NL-leading ERA to 2.41. He gave up Jason Giambi's run-scoring triple in the sixth inning.
Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 18th save as the Giants won their fourth straight. Nen's 244th save tied him with Dan Quisenberry for 19th on the career list.
“The way Barry's been hitting them lately, I would have felt slighted if he didn't hit one out when I was pitching, I'd take it personally,” Estes said.
Bonds' first homer of the night, the 529th of his career, came in the first inning and gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. It was an opposite-field shot to left-center off Mulder (8-4), who allowed three runs in six innings.
His second homer was down the line in right, and gave the Giants a 3-1 lead in the sixth.
Rich Aurilia, who began the night leading the NL with a .366 batting average, went 0-for-4 for the Giants and his average dropped to .360.
The Giants' other run came in the second on a sacrifice fly by Pedro Feliz, who was awarded the starting third base job before the game when the Giants designated Russ Davis for assignment.
Davis, who joined the Giants as a free agent before last season after four years in Seattle, must be traded or claimed by another team within 10 days.
The move came a day after the Giants designated backup catcher Bobby Estalella for assignment, and two weeks after Calvin Murray was recalled from the minors to take over for Marvin Benard as the starting center fielder.
Notes: Giambi's triple was the sixth of his major league career. He has 202 doubles. ... Estes has an ERA of 1.29 at home this season. He is 6-0 at Pacific Bell Park this year. ... Mulder had been 7-1 following an A's loss this season. ... Eric Davis was activated from the disabled list by the Giants before the game. Davis, who had been sidelined since May 27 due to a left shoulder strain, went 2-for-3. ... The A's optioned OF Eric Byrnes to Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League to clear a roster spot for outfielder Billy McMillon, claimed on waivers from Detroit on Wednesday. ... Giants manager Dusty Baker turned 52 Friday.
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