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Bonds look to increase record as Giants hope to avoid sweep

Aug 12, 2007 - 2:20 PM Pittsburgh (47-66) at San Francisco (49-66) 3:05 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Barry Bonds should be in the lineup on Sunday to increase his lead on the all-time home run list against the Pittsburgh Pirates, hoping he can help the San Francisco Giants avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of Bonds' former team.

Bonds blasted home run No. 758 on Friday in an 8-7 setback but did not see any action on Saturday as the Giants were pounded, 13-3. The seven-time National League MVP is 1-for-2 with a double and a walk against Pittsburgh's starter on Sunday, Tom Gorzelanny (10-6, 3.50 ERA), who leads the team in victories.

In Tuesday's 8-3 win over Arizona, the lefthander allowed two runs and four hits, striking out a career-high nine over seven innings. It was his first start in 13 days after sitting out due to shoulder stiffness.

Gorzelanny grabbed his first major league win in his only career start against the Giants last July 29, yielding two runs and six hits in seven innings.

The first two wins in this series have helped the Pirates extend their recent dominance of San Francisco, winning five straight - and 10 of 12 - games at AT&T Park. Overall, Pittsburgh is 15-7 overall against San Francisco dating back to 2004.

The success against the Giants is in stark contrast to the Giants' limited success against the rest of the NL. Pittsburgh has not swept a road series since opening the season with three straight wins at Houston April 2-4.

Opposing Gorzelanny will be another lefthander, Barry Zito (8-10, 5.16), who takes the mound against the only team he has not faced in his career. Overshadowed by Bonds' historic 756th home run on Tuesday, the lefthander surrendered three homers of his own but did not get a decision as he permitted four runs over five frames in an 8-6 home loss to the Washington Nationals.

Zito signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with San Francisco in the offseason, but instead of pitching like the staff ace, he is on pace for the first losing season of his eight-year career.

Zito's most recent unforgettable outing was overshadowed by Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run. Zito gave up three homers of his own, on Tuesday.

The left-hander is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in four home starts since defeating Houston on May 23. He's served up seven home runs in 21 innings during that winless skid after giving up two in 38 1-3 innings over his first six home starts.

The Giants, who have lost seven of nine, have the second-worst record in the league.