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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds was in the on-deck circle when
he spotted John McEnroe in a front-row seat. An avid tennis fan,
Bonds teased McEnroe about his old habit of shattering rackets in
anger.
"I told him, 'After I hit this homer, I'll give you my bat,' "
Bonds said.
|  | | Let the legend begin. Barry Bonds apparently called his towering shot into the water Wednesday night, a homer that tied him with Lou Gehrig at 17th on the all-time list. |
Bonds then went to the plate and smashed the ball into McCovey
Cove. After rounding the bases, he handed his bat to an awestruck
McEnroe.
"I was like, 'Holy cow!' " Bonds said with a grin. "Something
like that happens maybe once in your lifetime."
It was that kind of magical night for the San Francisco Giants,
who clinched a tie for the the NL West title by beating the
Cincinnati Reds 4-2 Wednesday night.
Russ Ortiz threw six hitless innings and J.T. Snow drove in
three runs for the Giants, who can win the West by beating Arizona
on Thursday night.
San Francisco, helped by Arizona's 1-0 loss to Los Angeles, cut
its magic number to one.
Bonds' 493rd career homer into the mist and water beyond Pacific
Bell Park's right-field wall tied Bonds with Lou Gehrig for 17th on
the majors' career list. It also brought a raucous ovation from the
San Francisco fans, who will be at full volume for the Giants'
upcoming five-game series against the Diamondbacks.
"It could happen (Thursday) night, but it'll be tough," Giants
manager Dusty Baker said. "That last breath out of anybody is
tough, but this city is ready for it and this organization is ready
for it."
The Giants, who improved the majors' best record to 91-60,
managed just five hits on Wednesday night, but they were enough to
back Ortiz (13-11). He allowed two hits over 6 2/3 innings to win
for the eighth time in nine decisions. Ortiz is 8-1 with a 1.92 ERA
in his last 10 starts.
"That was probably the best six innings I've thrown in a long
time," Ortiz said. "I had everything working, and I was hitting
all my spots."
Robb Nen struck out the side in the ninth for his 38th save. He
has thrown 25 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over 27
appearances.
Steve Parris (12-15), who like Ortiz had won seven games since
Aug. 1, gave up four runs in five innings and had his seven-game
winning streak snapped.
Ortiz didn't allow a hit, walked just one and faced the minimum
18 batters until the seventh inning. Leadoff hitter Brian Hunter
squibbed a swinging bunt up the third-base line that neither Ortiz
nor catcher Bobby Estalella could reach in time for a single.
Asked if it was poor sportsmanship to bunt in a potential
no-hitter, Ortiz shrugged and said: "They've got to try to win,
too."
Ortiz, who struck out eight, lost his focus after Hunter's bunt,
hitting Pokey Reese on the left hand and surrendering a two-run
double by Michael Tucker. Doug Henry then relieved and pitched out
of the jam.
Reese sustained a bruised left hand and left the game, but
X-rays were negative.
"These Giants are tough," Reds manager Jack McKeon said.
"(Ortiz) did an outstanding job for six innings. The way things
were going, I thought he'd throw a no-hitter."
With Arizona coming to town for the first of eight games between
the clubs in the season's final two weeks, San Francisco can clinch
the division in style with one victory in five chances over the
next four days at Pac Bell.
After Jeff Kent tripled in the second, Snow drove in the Giants'
first run on a groundout. Snow drove in two more runs with a
bases-loaded double in the third that scored Marvin Benard and
Bonds.
Ken Griffey pinch-hit in the Reds eighth and struck out against
Felix Rodriguez. On Tuesday night, Griffey hit a pinch-hit homer in
his first appearance after missing eight games with a partially
torn left hamstring.
Game notes
Bonds' 48 homers this season are the most by a Giants left
fielder in the franchise's 110-year history. ... Bonds is
responsible for six of the seven homers that have landed in McCovey
Cove this season. Los Angeles' Todd Hundley is the only other
hitter to do it. ... The Giants' last no-hitter was pitched by John
Montefusco on Sept. 29, 1976. ... 1B Sean Casey was held out of the
Reds' starting lineup with a tight right hamstring. He hurt himself
sliding into home with the Reds' first run on Tuesday night. ...
Tucker made a helmet-throwing protest after umpire Jeff Nelson
called him out when he tried to steal second in the second inning.
Moments later, the crowd booed when he caught a fly ball for the
third out and then threw the ball over the right-field wall into
the water, instead of throwing it to a fan.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
San Francisco Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 2
Oakland 0
Oakland 4
Baltimore 0
(2nd game)
Cleveland 2
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Boston 4
(2nd game)
Chi. White Sox 13
Detroit 6
Toronto 7
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 5
Tampa Bay 4
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 4
Texas 6
Minnesota 4
Montreal 4
Florida 2
Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 6
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 3
Milwaukee 3
Chicago Cubs 2
St. Louis 11
Houston 6
San Diego 15
Colorado 11
Los Angeles 1
Arizona 0
San Francisco 4
Cincinnati 2
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