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Bonds blasts homers Nos. 752, 753, but Cubs top Giants

Jul 19, 2007 - 11:40 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Barry Bonds snapped out of his slump in a big way, but the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs kept their respective streaks going.

Bonds homered in the second inning and again in the seventh to climb within two homers of tying Hank Aaron's all-time mark of 755, but the red-hot Cubs staved off the Giants, 9-8, on Thursday.

The Cubs have won 18 of their last 23 games while the Giants have dropped seven of their last eight contests.

"We lost the game and they won it, so they get the last laugh," Bonds said. "I had the time off and feel rejuvenated. I want to play."

Bonds, who had not homered since July 3, has 19 blasts on the season. It was his second multi-homer game of the season - the other coming April 13 at Pittsburgh - and 71st of his career.

The 22-year veteran, who did not start any of the last three games, snapped an 0-for-21 drought when he led off the second by crushing lefthander Ted Lilly's first-pitch fastball over the right field bleachers at Wrigley Field and onto Sheffield Avenue for career homer No. 752.

"My wife came out with the kids and got me away from things for a while, it helped me clear my head." Bonds said. "I did some film searching and corrected some things."

The lefthanded Bonds has enjoyed great success against Lilly.

"I have been aggressive with him (Bonds)," Lilly said. "He has three home runs in nine at-bats against me, so my aggressiveness has not worked."

In the seventh, Bonds deposited lefthander Will Ohman's 3-2 offering over the center field wall for homer No. 753, a three-run shot. Ohman became the 443rd pitcher to give up a home run to Bonds.

"I didn't locate the pitch," Ohman said. "It was a very below average pitch to a very above hitter. End result: 753."

A seven-time National League MVP, Bonds also went hitless in 21 straight at-bats in 2001 - the year he set the single-season home run record of 73.

Bonds' first blast came after the Cubs' four-run first inning, which was aided by three throwing errors by the Giants.

"It is hard to play as bad as we did today," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The first inning, the ball was going everywhere. You hate to see that happen."

Bonds continued his dominance with a two-run single to left field in the third, cutting the Cubs' lead to 4-3. He also came around to score on Bengie Molina's two-run homer in the sixth.

Bonds finished the day 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a season-high six RBI.

"Yeah it's real, it's real now," Bonds said of approaching the record. "I do have to get over them switching baseballs, because when it happens, I kind of go into a slide. It's tough because then you realize something is going on and that is not what you want to think about."

Jacque Jones had four hits while Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez chipped in with three hits and two runs scored apiece for the Cubs.

Ramirez and Cliff Floyd doubled in runs in the fourth, and Soriano's double plated Lilly in the fifth to give the Cubs an 8-3 lead.

"That's what the fans came out to see," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "They got their money's worth, (Barry) put on a power hitting exhibition and our team won a baseball game. I think everybody is happy."

After Molina's two-run homer pulled the Giants within 8-5, Mike Fontenot's run-scoring single provided Chicago its eventual winning run in the sixth.

Lilly (10-4), who allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, has won his last six decisions - including five straight starts.

"I didn't have my best stuff today," Lilly said. "The team scored a lot of runs and I feel good about that."

Four pitchers bridged the gap before Bob Howry worked a flawless ninth, striking out two for his seventh save of the season.

San Francisco's Matt Morris (7-6), who is 0-3 in his last six starts, allowed eight runs and 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The game did prove costly for the Cubs as first baseman Daryle Ward left the game in the second inning with a strained right calf. Floyd exited the game in the fourth with a strained neck.