Local News

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / AP) ― The Padres were in a perfect situation to challenge Barry Bonds: a three-run lead in the eighth inning with nobody on base. Giants fans got what they came to see, and now Bonds is two home runs from tying the Babe.

Padres Beat Giants 5-3
Box Score
Barry Bonds Home Run Tracker
San Francisco Giants Team Page
CBS 5 Sports

Bonds hit his 712th homer in San Francisco's 5-3 loss to San Diego on Tuesday, moving him even closer to matching Babe Ruth's total for second place on the career list.

Bonds' fourth home run of the season came on the final game of the Giants' five-game homestand.

Bonds sent a full-count, 96 mph fastball from Scott Linebrink over the center-field wall for a solo shot that traveled an estimated 440 feet. Linebrink became the 419th pitcher to surrender a home run to Bonds.

"The fast ones I'm able to see. The slower ones I'm missing," Bonds said, smiling. "He challenged me one time too many."

The seven-time NL MVP, as popular as ever in his home ballpark despite the steroids accusations surrounding him, came home to chants of "Barry! Barry!" and a loud standing ovation _ and he gave the fans a wave before disappearing into the dugout. His home run total flashed on the scoreboard between innings.

Now, the 41-year-old Bonds will resume his chase for No. 714 on the road. The Giants open a two-game series Wednesday night in Milwaukee _ where home run king Hank Aaron played much of his career _ and then start a three-game, weekend set in Philadelphia.

Aaron holds the career record with 755 homers.

"I want him to do it as soon as possible _ 715 as soon as possible," Giants manager Felipe Alou said. "Do the other one here, 756 at home. You can't wait. You never know. ... Barry's not 31 years old. Go ahead and do it. If they give him a pitch to hit, I'm pretty sure he'll hit it."

Bonds said he hadn't thought about the possibility of tying or passing Ruth in the city where Aaron once ruled.

"I don't know," he said. "I haven't done it yet. I can't answer that question. ... I don't like talking about it at all, because here's nothing really to talk about at this moment."

After this trip, the Giants return home, where Bonds will first play Houston on Monday in a makeup game and then face former manager Dusty Baker and the Chicago Cubs.

Bonds' big hit overshadowed Mike Cameron's first home run with the Padres, a two-run shot in the first that helped Woody Williams end a three-start winless stretch.

"It's how you want to face him," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said of Bonds. "It looked like he didn't have a chance. He fought off some tough pitches and then crushed one to center. You can't forget how awesome he is just because his knee is bothering him."

Bonds was 0-for-2 with a walk before hitting his 82nd home run against the Padres, his top victim.

With the Padres up three runs and nobody on base, Linebrink didn't have to think about whether to pitch around Bonds.

"You face him enough times, he's going to get everybody," Linebrink said. "He's one of the greatest hitters in the game. You always have a little more adrenaline when it's Bonds. He's so deadly. He's got such a quick bat. The only chance you've got is to pitch him away."

With one out in the sixth and nobody on, Williams (2-1) walked Bonds on six pitches. It was Williams' lone walk in 5 2-3 strong innings in which he struck out three and allowed two runs and five hits.

Bonds played only six innings in Monday's 10-4 loss, a move to keep him fresh to play in a day game following a night game, which has not been his typical practice in recent years.

"He gave him a 96 mph fastball," Alou said. "In his last at-bat, it was a 41-year-old playing a day game after a day game after a night game. That was an awesome pitch. It was not easy. But Barry knows how to swing like that on a fastball."

Now, Bonds has no plans to sit out despite his tender right knee that underwent three operations last year and limited him to 14 games in 2005.

"I'm playing. Moises (Alou) has been out there every single day," Bonds said. "His legs are a little bit sore. I'm playing. I've got to get through it, regardless."

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)