• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Just pinch hitting for Bonds against Pirates

Aug 11, 2007 - 1:35 PM Pittsburgh (46-66) at San Francisco (49-65) 3:55 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Barry Bonds has homered in each of his last three starts, but at the age of 43, a day of rest takes precedent over continuing to make history.

Bonds, who broke Hank Aaron's career record with his 756th career homer on Tuesday, will likely be on the bench at the start when the San Francisco Giants host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Bonds homered on Wednesday and again on Friday to push his career total to 758, but the All-Star slugger usually sits out day games after night games, so the fans will be forced to focus their attention on a pair of last-place teams.

One person who should be happy not to see Bonds will be Pirates starter Tony Armas (1-3, 6.31 ERA), who has been victimized with a pair of homers in 10 career at-bats against the seven-time MVP.

Armas returned to the rotation on August 1 after 2 1/2 months in the bullpen and earned a win, allowing one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 15-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Giants will counter with rookie Tim Lincecum (6-2, 3.59). The 23-year-old righthander owns a 4-0 record with a 1.35 ERA in his last eight starts with 59 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings pitched.

Pittsburgh took the series opener on Friday, 8-7, on the strength of a six-run eighth inning.