San Francisco – Barry Bonds had a blast – and a game-winner – forcing the Rockies to swallow another bitter defeat Wednesday night at AT&T Park.
Bonds hit a two-run, bases-loaded single in the eighth inning off Rockies reliever Manny Corpas, lifting San Francisco to a 5-3 victory in the finale of the series, in which the Giants won two of three games.
With one out in the fourth inning, Bonds unleashed career home run No. 743. It was a two- run shot off Rockies starter Jeff Francis, with Bonds scalding Francis’ first pitch down the right-field line. Bonds needs 13 home runs to eclipse Hank Aaron’s all-time record of 755.
With his four RBIs, Bonds tied Hall of Famer Stan Musial for fourth place on baseball’s all-time RBIs list with 1,951.
Though Francis took the loss and fell to 1-4, he pitched a strong 7 1/3 innings before giving way to Corpas in the eighth.
Corpas entered with the Rockies leading 3-2, but with Ryan Klesko standing on second and Randy Winn perched on first. Both reached via singles off Francis.
When Corpas walked Rich Aurilia to load the bases, the stage was set. Bonds responded with his line drive through the right side. Bengie Molina’s subsequent single to right scored Aurilia, accounting for the final score.
While Bonds’ single will make the highlight reels, it was Aurilia’s walk that backed the Rockies into a corner.
“Obviously it puts them in a tough spot to have to face Bonds with the bases loaded,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “Barry had quite a night, and it’s always big when you can get a walk like that.”
Second-guessers will no doubt question why Rockies manager Clint Hurdle didn’t bring in left-handed closer Brian Fuentes to face the left handed-hitting Bonds. The reason he didn’t? Bonds is 8-for-10 off Fuentes, with two home runs and three RBIs.
Overshadowed by the loss was Francis’ return to form. The home run pitch to Bonds, over the heart of the plate, was his only big mistake of the night. Francis was charged with four runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked two.
After three consecutive losses in which he had a 9.37 ERA and opposing hitters battered him at a .440 clip, Francis finally was sharp again, in large part because he escaped his own head.
“Jeff overanalyzes,” Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. “He’s never satisfied, always working to get better. That’s fine. But I want him to just think about playing the game, instead of getting focused on too many things, or on what he hasn’t accomplished yet. I don’t want that excess baggage.”
The Rockies took a 3-2 lead in the eighth when rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki scored on a throwing error by Aurilia at short. Tulowitzki opened the inning by drawing a walk from reliever Kevin Correia. He moved to second when Matt Holliday drew another walk. He scored when Aurilia tried to complete a double play off Todd Helton’s grounder.
The Rockies tied the game in the fifth. Giants starter Barry Zito walked Chris Iannetta, who moved to second on Jamey Carroll’s single. Francis advanced both of them with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Willy Taveras poked a single to left to score Iannetta, and Tulowitzki’s sacrifice fly to center scored Carroll.
Zito, as usual, was tough on Colorado. In seven innings he gave up two runs on four hits.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
