Bonds Fall Guy in October Loss Again : Pirates: Pittsburgh star hitless in three at-bats in opening-game setback.

Barry Bonds sat emotionless, answering wave after wave of questioning Tuesday night. His eyes looked distant, his voice was monotone, his mood never vacillated.

It’s almost as if Bonds has become accustomed to this cruel October ritual: rip through the National League during the season, lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to the division title, and collapse in the playoffs.

“It’s not me against the Atlanta Braves, man,” Bonds said. “It’s not fair. And it’s just not right.

“Believe me, I’m not ashamed of anything.”

No matter, Bonds found himself once again being condemned for the Pirates’ 5-1 defeat to the Braves in Game 1 of the National League playoffs.

Bonds went hitless in three at-bats, striking out on three pitches in first plate appearance.

It might be OK for anyone else. No one even bothered to talk to first baseman Orlando Merced, who didn’t hit the ball out of the infield and made a throwing error.

But for Bonds, the leading candidate to win his second most-valuable-player award in three seasons, this shouldn’t be happening.

No one can explain why Bonds, the league’s greatest player from April to September, becomes an albatross to the Pirates in October.

Bonds has played 14 postseason games for the Pirates the last three seasons and is batting .146 with one double and one run batted in.

In contrast, Atlanta second baseman Mark Lemke owns a .340 postseason average, with five extra-base hits and six RBIs.

“We should be more worried about trying to get him out than trying to figure out what’s wrong with me,” Bonds said. “We kept him in check all season, but in postseason, Lemke becomes like Hank Aaron.

“Whatever he’s eating, I sure wish he’d send some over to us.”

The entire Pirate offense has become anemic in postseason. They got only five hits Tuesday, and it took Jose Lind’s eighth-inning home run to end their string of 29 scoreless innings--the longest in NL playoff history.

This is the same Lind that went the entire regular season without hitting a homer run, and now has has two postseason homers.

“I hit the homer,” Lind said. “How come no one talks to me?”

Said Bonds: “That’s the way the media is. People wait for me to do bad, and then jump on it. I’m not going to let the media ruin what I’ve accomplished.

“If you want crud, go someplace else.”

To be honest, Bonds said, his struggles should come as no surprise. He batted only .211 against the Braves all season, driving in one run.

“I’m just human, but I think people forget that,” Bonds said.

However, if the Pirates and Bonds go down in defeat once again, perhaps all that will be remembered is the Pirates’ collapse in postseason play.

“I’m tired of people bringing up what happened the last two years,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said. “Just because we’ve lost this thing twice doesn’t mean we’ll lose again. Nor does it mean that we’ll win because we’re due.

“What happened last year will be a memory, and nothing more. I never felt bad about last year. Disappointed sure, but that’s it.

“And I’m telling you right now, I’m not going to be embarrassed if we don’t win this year. This club has nothing to be ashamed of.”

Still, there is the sentiment that this will be the Pirates’ last stand. Bonds will be a a free agent in three weeks, along with Game 1 starter Doug Drabek. The Pirates could have trouble getting to .500 again, much less a fourth consecutive division title.

“My God, we’re in the (championship series), let us play,” Leyland. “Why do I give a damn if these guys leave in three weeks. Their rainbows are coming. I’m concerned about now.

“The farthest thing from my mind is that, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got to win this because Barry and Doug are leaving.’

“I think we all know how important this (year) is to us, and no one realizes that more than Barry.”