• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bonds hits 754th homer as Giants rally past Marlins

Jul 28, 2007 - 10:00 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- At long last, Barry Bonds gave the fans at AT&T Park what they wanted to see.

Bonds hit his 754th career homer to pull within one of trying Hank Aaron's all-time mark as the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 12-10 triumph over the Florida Marlins on Friday night.

The 43-year-old slugger inched closer to the historical milestone in the first inning, when he connected on a 2-1 pitch to deep left-center - estimated at 420 feet off Florida rookie Rick Vanden Hurk for a 2-1 lead.

The capacity crowd roared its approval and when Bonds took the field for the second inning, a congratulatory message from former NBA legend Michael Jordan played on the scoreboard.

"It felt good, real good, but a win felt better," Bonds said. "It's sinking in now. The city is great, the fans have been fantastic. I don't know how to say thank you enough for them and the city of San Francisco, not only for myself, but for the organization. It's very hard to explain because I can't tell you every emotion that's going through my body and everything that's going on."

Bonds claims this chase is not much different from any other milestone he has chased throughout his career.

"It's a very different situation this time around than any of my other home runs. Every home run I've hit was mostly in a pennant race. I don't feel that kind of pressure. I've been doing that my whole life."

It was the first homer at home for the seven-time National League MVP since going deep in the fifth inning of a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks June 29

Vanden Hurk, who possibly did not want to be linked with Bonds forever, walked the San Francisco slugger in the third and again in the fifth. Bonds finished 1-for-1 with four walks on the evening.

"I knew when I let it go I didn't bury it (the 2-1 changeup) or finish it all the way," Vanden Hurk said. "I wanted to throw down and I left it hanging up and he hit it out. I knew he got real good wood on it. He's such a great hitter, you have to execute and I nibbled a little bit too much."

After the hanging changeup, Bonds did not see another pitch to hit.

"To hit it there, you have to get all of it," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's what's amazing about what he's accomplished over the years. The fact that he gets walked so much. This is a tough place to hit a home run and he showed us how strong he still is."

However, Bonds' celebration cheers turn into boos after Giants starter Barry Zito was tagged for four runs in the third as Mike Jacobs laced a two-run double and came around on Cody Ross' two-run homer.

Jacobs marveled at the atmosphere and energy of the crowd and what Bonds is about to accomplish and used the phrase "star-struck" to describe the mood as the Marlins left the field after the end of the first.

"It's hard to explain what he's doing," Jacobs said. "To hit that many home runs and to be doing it, still be doing it and be two home runs away from it is incredible. I know everyone talks about A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) having a chance to do it, but until that day comes, Barry Bonds is by far the best hitter ever in this game."

But San Francisco rallied in the fifth as Bonds and Ryan Klesko drew consecutive walks before Pedro Feliz delivered a three-run blast. Bengie Molina then capped the four-run uprising with a solo shot off Vanden Hurk to tie the game at 6-6.

Hanley Ramirez gave Florida a brief one-run advantage with a leadoff homer - his 17th - to left against reliever Kevin Correia in the next frame.

"What, 28 hits for both teams. ... a lot of balls leaving the ballpark," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We don't play here very often, but I've never seen balls jump in this ballpark like this. We got some pitches up in the strike zone and they swung the bat and got some runs."

Gonzalez plans to pitch "in situations" to Bonds throughout the remainder of the series.

"You can't throw him cookies. We were trying to pitch to him but we ended up walking him," Gonzalez said.

San Francisco seized the lead for good in the bottom half. Randy Winn doubled and scored on Omar Vizquel's RBI single and Ray Durham followed with a go-head two-run homer off reliever Renyel Pinto (2-4), highlighting a commanding six-run inning to make it 12-7.

That blast made a winner of Vinnie Chulk (4-2), who got the last two outs of the sixth.

Durham's blast gave the Giants their second four-homer contest of the season. San Francisco also went deep four times at Cincinnati on July 4.

Zito gave up six runs and eight hits in just four innings to remain winless in his last three home games.

"They certainly deserve better out of me," Zito said. "I'm working my ass off and that's not going to stop. I just have to keep working."

Vanden Hurk surrendered six runs and eight hits with five walks over five frames.

Prior to the game, Giants owner Peter Magowan stated he thought the home run chase was becoming a distraction to the club and Bochy agreed.

"It's hard for it not to be," Bochy said. "With all the attention Barry is getting with all of you (the media) being here. At the same time, we've talked about this and we all focus on the ballgame being played. I thought the guys did a great job. We got down, but we fought back."

Bochy stated he would check with Bonds to see how he feels before making a decision on whether No. 25 will be in the lineup on Saturday and or Sunday. Bonds had a more definite answer, "I'm playing both as far as I know. He (Bochy) hasn't told me anything different at this time."