• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Winn's walk-off single lifts Giants; Bonds stuck on 755

Aug 7, 2007 - 7:32 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- What started out as Barry Bonds' run at history turned out to be one more extra-inning affair for the San Francisco Giants.

Randy Winn's walk-off single in extra innings helped the Giants to a 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday.

Bonds finished 0-for-3 with a walk in his first game after clubbing homer No. 755 on Saturday to tie Hank Aaron's mark and remains one shy of becoming the all-time home run king.

The 43-year-old slugger was replaced in the field after striking out for the last out in the seventh in what would become the Giants' third extra-inning game in their last four contests.

Washington's Ray King (0-1) relieved closer Chad Cordero to start the 11th and promptly surrendered a leadoff double to Ryan Klesko. The Nationals elected to intentionally walk Dave Roberts to secure a force at each base but the strategy backfired when the lefthander's pitch grazed Rajai Davis' arm to load the bases.

"It was a good ballgame, we had them where we wanted them," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "Our bullpen - those guys are human. Cordero has been outstanding for us and he just couldn't close it out for us today. I give them credit they came back against our main man."

King was pulled in favor of reliever Luis Ayala, who was able to force Klesko out at home on a fielder's choice to first. However, Winn singled just past second baseman Ronnie Belliard - his fourth hit of the contest - to plate Roberts for the winning run.

Brad Hennessey (2-3) worked around a hit in the top of the 11th to get the decision.

"It feels really good," Winn said. "We had a really rough series in San Diego (losing three one-run games, including two in extra innings). Tonight, they went ahead, but we kept fighting and tied it and then went ahead and won it."

Bengie Molina tallied two RBI and tied the game at 2-2 in the 10th to give the Giants one more chance and help San Francisco win for just the sixth time in 17 extra-inning games.

The Nationals had their chance to secure the victory in the top of the 10th as Dmitri Young snapped a 1-1 tie by lining an 0-2 pitch off reliever Scott Atchison into the right field seats. The solo shot was the cleanup hitter's first since July 16 and was the first extra-inning home run hit by the Nationals this season.

But Cordero, who leads the majors in blown saves, was unable to shut the door on San Francisco, which notched its 27th comeback win.

Making just his third career appearance, Nationals starter John Lannan turned in the longest outing of his career, going seven innings for the Nationals and allowing one run and eight hits with five walks and two strikeouts.

"I think this kid did a tremendous job under the conditions," Acta said. "Not easy for a kid that just started in (Class) A ball this year to come up here in front of this crowd with what's going on here. He couldn't command his fastball today, but he made pitches when he had to."

Lannan insisted his approach to Bonds just followed the game plan, although he did admit striking out the Giants slugger was special.

"I just had faith in (catcher Brian Schneider) and what he was calling," Lannan said. "Fortunately, he swung through a pitch and it set up the curveball. I was just trying to keep my composure and follow the game plan and trying to keep the team in it and make pitches."

Giants starter and fellow rookie Tim Lincecum recorded five walks for the second straight start, but was able to overcome it by striking out eight over seven frames and allowing just three hits after surrendering consecutive single to open the game.

The righthander stranded five baserunners over the fifth and sixth innings alone, getting out of both jams via the strikeout.

"We weren't going to let him go far in that inning, but he was adamant that he felt great," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "I know it's being on the competitive side, but if we would have thought he was laboring at all, he would have come out of there."