Bonds Homers, Gets Tossed; Giants Lose

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2276369

SAN FRANCISCO - Yorvit Torrealba hit a three-run homer against his former team and also scored a run on a balk, leading the Colorado Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 5-2 Friday night despite allowing Barry Bonds' 723rd career home run.

Bonds hit a solo shot to center in the seventh for his first home run since July 20 against San Diego, a span of 26 at-bats. He was batting in the ninth when he began arguing with plate umpire Ron Kulpa about a called second strike. Kulpa immediately ejected Bonds, who got in the umpire's face and began yelling.


Bonds returned to the dugout, sat down and crossed his arms as fans responded by throwing garbage, including beer bottles, onto the field from all directions. The Rockies left the field and retreated into their dugout to avoid being hit while fans chanted "Barry! Barry!"


Security came onto the field and so did a large cleanup crew, causing an 11-minute delay. Fans also threw things at the umpires as they were escorted off the field after the game.


Bonds, who sat out of games on Tuesday and Wednesday with swelling in his troublesome right knee before Thursday's off day, sent a 2-1 pitch from Jeff Francis (9-9) over the wall in center in the seventh for his 15th home run of the year to move within 32 of tying home run king Hank Aaron's record of 755.


The 42-year-old Bonds hit his first homer off Francis, who became the 429th different pitcher to surrender a home run to the seven-time NL MVP. Bonds also hit his 715th homer May 28 against Colorado to pass Babe Ruth and move into second place on the career list behind Aaron.


Also, the homer gave Bonds 1,377 extra-base hits to tie him with Stan Musial for second all-time behind Aaron's 1,477.


Torrealba, traded by the Giants last season, hit a 2-1 pitch into the bleachers in left in Colorado's four-run sixth for his fifth homer of the season. He also scored in the fifth on a balk after leading off the inning with a double.


Pedro Feliz also homered for the first time since July 20 for the Giants, who began a key stretch of 19 straight games against the NL West. San Francisco snapped a nine-game losing streak Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.


Feliz, who had gone 33 at-bats without an RBI, hit his 17th homer leading off the third with a shot to left-center his first home run in 44 at-bats.


After Eliezer Alfonzo followed with a single, Francis retired the next 13 batters he faced before Bonds connected. Francis pitched eight strong innings to win for the third time in four starts, allowing six hits with two strikeouts and no walks.


Brian Fuentes recorded the final three outs for his 21st save in 25 chances as Colorado began a seven-game road trip by winning for the fourth time in five games. The Rockies, coming off a 6-4 homestand, are in a stretch with 11 of 14 against the division.


Matt Morris (8-9) had his four-game winning streak against the Rockies end. It was his first loss to Colorado in six starts since a loss April 5, 2001. Morris is winless in his last four starts following a five-game winning streak. He allowed five runs and five hits in six innings, struck out four and walked two.


The right-hander faced only five batters April 23 in his only other start against the Rockies this year, getting ejected at Coors Field after throwing only eight pitches and plunking two of the five batters he faced. He was later fined by the league.


Giants second baseman Ray Durham left the game after the third inning with a migraine and was replaced by Jose Vizcaino.


Notes:mad: Feliz came into the game batting .190 (4-for-21) lifetime against Francis with no home runs and three strikeouts. ... Colorado's Todd Helton had his eight-game hitting streak snapped. ... Giants C Mike Matheny, out for the season with a concussion, returned home to Chesterfield, Mo. ... Jamey Wright, usually San Francisco's fifth starter, pitched the ninth in relief.
 
Back
Top