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Bonds likely to resume home run chase in finale vs. Braves

Jul 26, 2007 - 1:35 PM Atlanta (54-48) at San Francisco (42-57) 7:05 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - One day after standing up commissioner Bud Selig, Barry Bonds appears likely to resume his chase of Hank Aaron's legendary mark of 755 home runs on Thursday when the San Francisco Giants face the Atlanta Braves.

Following comments from Selig that he would do what he could on his end to be in attendance when Bonds breaks the record, the seven-time National League MVP sat out the Giants' 2-1 victory on Wednesday. However, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy made it sound likely that Bonds would once again rejoin the lineup for the series finale.

Bonds remains at 753 homers but has only went deep three times in July, including twice in one game last week.

Rookie Tim Lincecum (5-2, 3.96 ERA) takes the mound for the Giants. The righthander has been stellar over his last five turns, going 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA in that time. That stretch come on the heels of a stretch that saw the 23-year-old go 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in four starts.

Part of Lincecum's impressive stretch included his outing on Saturday, an 8-0 win over Milwaukee, in which he yielded just four hits and struck out eight over eight frames. He has recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his last five starts but this will be the first time he has faced the Braves.

Riding his own impressive streak is Braves starter Buddy Carlyle (5-2, 4.05), who never has faced Bonds and will be making his first career start against the Giants after three relief appearances. He has not received a decision against San Francisco and has recorded a 4.76 ERA.

Just like Lincecum, the 29-year-old righthander has been terrific over his last five starts, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA. This stretch included Saturday, in which Carlyle permitted three runs and seven hits over six innings in a 14-6 win over St. Louis on Saturday.