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Bonds hits No. 755 in Giants' loss

Aug 5, 2007 - 7:56 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - Hank Aaron officially has company.

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds belted the 755th home run of his career to tie Aaron for first place on the all-time list, as the San Francisco Giants fell to the San Diego Padres, 3-2, in 12 innings Saturday.

The solo shot came with no outs in the second inning against San Diego starter Clay Hensley, who had never surrendered a long ball to Bonds and became the 445th different pitcher to do so in the seven-time National League MVP's career.

The Padres have been victimized by Bonds 87 times - his most against any club - but got some measure of revenge when Khalil Greene delivered a bases-loaded single in the 12th inning for their third straight victory.

Still, the evening belong to Bonds.

After watching Hensley's first three pitches go by, Bonds sent a 2-1 offering an estimated 382 feet into the left field seats for his 21st homer of the year and first since July 27.

"I was thinking that I finally mechanically did something right," Bonds said. "I don't even think the pitch was a strike. It was an up-and-way pitch, and I finally got into a hitting position. I knew I hit it. I knew I hit it good enough to get it out, but I have no idea where it went."

"Obviously, you don't want to be that guy who gave up the home run, but it is what it is," Hensley said. "I'm not going to put too much stock in it. We were trying to win a ballgame. I wasn't trying to pitch around him, I went after him and he hit a ball that was up."

Most of the 42,497 fans in attendance were already standing and snapping photos of each of Bonds' swings, and an abundance of cheers from the crowd drowned out a smattering of boos when the ball cleared the fence.

"I want to thank the San Diego fans," Bonds said. "I thought they were outstanding. I just really, really appreciate the way San Diego handled everything."

Commissioner Bud Selig also looked on from Padres owner John Moores' suite, evaluating a milestone that will help define his legacy at the helm of the sport.

One fan in the vicinity threw a ball back onto the field, but 33-year-old Adam Hughes of La Jolla caught the actual home run ball and held onto the souvenir that was later authenticated by Major League Baseball.

"I was in the back of the pile," Hughes said. "I saw it go up above me, it came down, and it was on the ground. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Hughes, a plumber who attended the game with his cousin using tickets his mother gave him, said he has yet to decide whether to sell the ball or give it to either the Hall of Fame or Bonds himself.

"I haven't decided on that yet," Hughes said. "It was pretty neat to be a part of history. I'll have something to tell my kids for a long time."

Mired in a controversy involving his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, Bonds rounded the bases as each member of the Giants dugout, led by his son Nikolai, lined up at home plate to greet him.

Father and son embraced as Bonds crossed the plate, and his teammates congratulated him with hugs and high-fives as the cheering continued.

Bonds had three more chances to break Aaron's record, but was walked each time. He offered at two of the 16 pitches in those three plate appearances, but fouled both back.

Rajai Davis pinch-ran for Bonds in the eighth, as the crowd stood and cheered once more when Bonds exited toward the Giants dugout. Some booing could be also heard as Bonds tipped his helmet in acknowledgement.

"It's the toughest thing that I've ever done in my career," Bonds said. "It's literally different than any other milestone I've ever gone through. It's like, Hank Aaron. I can't explain the feeling of it, it's just Hank Aaron."

San Diego's Scott Hairston led off the first with a solo shot against San Francisco starter Pat Misch. It was his third homer in as many at-bats.

Hairston, who hit the tying and winning home runs against the Giants one night earlier, had (three) hits on the night and scored twice.

In the 12th, Marcus Giles drew a leadoff walk against Randy Messenger (1-4), stole second and was sacrificed to third. The Giants elected to intentionally walk the bases load but Greene delivered the walk-off hit, ending an 0-for-12 slump.

Cla Meredith (4-5) pitched a scoreless 12th to earn the victory.