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Bonds to take more swings at record vs. Marlins

Jul 27, 2007 - 1:36 PM Florida (48-55) at San Francisco (43-57) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- For those people hoping that Barry Bonds would tie and possibly break Hank Aaron's home run record of 755 at home before the end of the month, they are running out of time.

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game weekend series against the Florida Marlins on Friday.

Bonds went 1-for-4 with a double on Thursday in the series finale against the Braves, meaning he remained at 753 homers - two short of tying the record. Giants manager Bruce Bochy has indicated that he intends on playing Bonds in two of the three games this series.

Some teammates are speculating that Bonds is putting too much pressure on himself to reach the milestone at home.

"He looks pretty good, but it looks like sometimes he's expanding the zone because he's anxious to do it at home," teammate Ryan Klesko said. "Guys are pitching him tough. He wants to do it for the fans here."

If he is to make the hometown fans happy, he will likely need to go deep against Marlins starter Rick Vanden Hurk (3-2, 6.53 ERA), who is making his first career start against San Francisco and has never faced Bonds. The 22-year-old rookie may be making one of his final starts for some time as he keeping his rotation spot warm for Josh Johnson, who is expected to return to the team next week.

In Saturday's 9-3 win over Cincinnati, the righthander did not receive a decision despite allowing two runs and seven hits over six frames, in part because he walked two batters and hit two others. Vanden Hurk has never faced San Francisco.

The Giants will counter with Barry Zito (7-10, 5.00), who will try to rebound from yet another poor outing. San Francisco's prize offseason acquisition has seen his ERA go up each month with the team, from 3.73 in April to his 6.75 in July.

In his latest start on Sunday - 7-5 loss to Milwaukee - he was roughed up for seven runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Zito will be making his first career start against Florida.