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Bonds resumes pursuit of Aaron at home vs. Braves

Jul 23, 2007 - 1:54 PM Atlanta (52-47) at San Francisco (41-55) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Barry Bonds has the ideal scenario as he inches closer to baseball history.

Bonds and the San Francisco Giants begin a seven-game homestand on Monday when they face the Atlanta Braves.

The seven-time MVP is just two homers shy of tying Hank Aaron's all-time mark of 755, and will try and do it here, in front of the only fans that will embrace the record.

Bonds sat out Sunday's series finale with the Milwaukee Brewers, and went 0-for-6 with three walks in the first two games. In Thursday's series finale against Chicago, Bonds homered twice and knocked in six runs.

Bonds will try and move closer to smashing the most hallowed record in baseball against Aaron's old team. Aaron hit 335 home runs in nine season with the Braves.

Bonds will face Atlanta ace John Smoltz (9-5, 2.88 ERA), who is looking to lead the club to its 16 win in the last 24 games. Bonds is hitting .297 (19-for-64) vs. Smoltz with eight home runs and 20 walks.

Smoltz is making his second start after being on the disabled list with a inflammation in his right shoulder. On Wednesday, Smoltz threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts in a no-decision against Cincinnati.

Smoltz will be opposed by Matt Cain (3-11, 3.87) whose record is not indicative of how well he has pitched.

Cain has the ninth-lowest run support among National League starters at 3.72 runs per outing. The 22-year-old righthander has received more than two runs of support just in just six of his 19 starts.