Bonds Goes Over 100 RBI Mark . . . Again

It would be hard to be more consistent than Barry Bonds.

Bonds hit a three-run homer and reached 100 runs batted in for the sixth time in seven seasons, leading the San Francisco Giants over the Phillies, 8-4, Saturday night at Philadelphia.

“It’s great to have a chance to watch one of the best players in the game,” said Giant rookie Desi Wilson, who had three hits. “I never get tired of watching him.”

Bonds, who declined to talk with reporters, hit his 33rd homer in the first inning, raising his RBI total to 102. The only time he missed 100 RBIs in the last seven years was during the strike-shortened 1994 season.

“He’s very disciplined at the plate and I’ve learned a lot by watching him,” Wilson said. “It’s a pleasure being on the same team.”

Bonds has 23 homers at Veterans Stadium, the second-most by an opponent behind Gary Carter’s 26.

“He really loves this ballpark, it’s a good park to hit in,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said. “He got us a three-run homer early; when that happens it gives you a big advantage.”

Allen Watson (8-10) won for only the second time in nine starts, dropping the Phillies to 1-8 on their homestand. Watson gave up three runs and six hits in five innings, leaving because of a sore rib. Rod Beck got two outs for his 26th save in 31 chances.

Cincinnati 5-9, Colorado 3-5--Eddie Taubensee, Reggie Sanders, Jeff Branson and Barry Larkin homered in the eighth inning, rallying the Reds to victory and a doubleheader sweep of the Rockies at Cincinnati.

The Reds won the first game behind another three-hit game from Thomas Howard. Cincinnati has swept all four of its doubleheaders this season.

The Rockies took a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning of the second game, but Steve Reed (3-3) gave up homers to Taubensee and Sanders within three pitches and then another home run to Branson to put the Reds ahead. Larkin then added a pinch homer off John Burke in the Reds’ seven-run rally.

Jeff Shaw (5-4) got the victory despite giving up a run in the eighth inning.

In the first game, Howard had two doubles and a run-scoring triple in his fourth consecutive three-hit game for the Reds.

John Smiley (11-10) gave up six hits in seven innings. Hector Carrasco pitched a perfect eighth, and Jeff Brantley got the last three outs for his league-leading 33rd save.

Ellis Burks homered in the first game for his 100th RBI of the season and homered in the ninth inning of the second game. Walker and Bichette also hit consecutive homers in the second game--Walker’s second in three games since returning from a broken collarbone.

St. Louis 4, Florida 3--Luis Alicea tripled off the glove of center fielder Devon White with two outs in the eighth inning and pinch-hitter Royce Clayton drove in the go-ahead run with a single off second baseman Luis Castillo’s glove to lift the Cardinals over the Marlins at St. Louis.

“When I first hit it, I didn’t think he’d get there,” Alicea said. “Then when I was running, I was surprised to see that he caught up to it.”

But White, a Gold Glove outfielder, couldn’t hang on after a long run.

Rookie Edgar Renteria’s team-record hitting streak for the Marlins ended at 22 games after he went hitless in four at-bats.

T.J. Mathews (2-4) pitched one scoreless inning and Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Chicago 12, Houston 3--Luis Gonzalez homered, tripled and drove in five runs against his former team and Steve Trachsel won his fourth consecutive decision for the Cubs at Chicago.

Jose Hernandez’s bases-loaded single capped a four-run first and Gonzalez, traded to the Cubs from Houston last year, hit a two-run homer in the second also had a run-scoring single in the third and a two-run triple in the seventh.

“I see those guys all winter. I still live in Houston. But you do get extra satisfaction by beating those guys, particularly when you spent your whole career in that organization,” Gonzalez said. “I miss some of those guys, but that’s the way the game is. You have to move on. This feels good because it’s a big game for us and a big series for us. We’re still challenging in the division. We’re not giving up.”

Trachsel (11-6) gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out three in his third complete game of the season, two against Houston.

Atlanta 7, Pittsburgh 1--Ryan Klesko and Jermaine Dye each hit two-run homers and Mike Bielecki pitched five scoreless innings as the Braves defeated the Pirates at Atlanta.

Bielecki (4-2) gave up three hits, walked four and struck out five. Dean Hartgraves gave up a hit in two innings and Greg McMichael gave up a run-scoring grounder by Dave Clark in the eighth.