Giants’ Loss Has Painful Implications

Watching his team almost blow a nine-run lead was hard for Giant Manager Dusty Baker, but not as tough as watching Barry Bonds pull up lame running in on a pop fly in the ninth inning against the New York Mets on Wednesday at San Francisco.

“It looks like a mild strain, and he’s day-to-day,” Baker said of Bonds’ injury after the Giants’ 12-11 victory.

Bonds limped off the field under own his power and is questionable for tonight’s game against Montreal. He has played in a San Francisco franchise-record 354 consecutive games, the longest current streak in National League and second in the majors to Cal Ripken.

Jay Canizaro’s grand slam capped a seven-run first inning, and the Giants wound up needing that and much more.

San Diego 7, Montreal 2--Ken Caminiti kept up his extraordinary home run pace, connecting from both sides of the plate to drive in four runs at San Diego.

With his 12th homer of August, Caminiti set the franchise record for homers in a month and the NL mark for most homers by a switch-hitter in one month.

Batting left-handed, Caminiti hit a three-run homer to left-center in the first inning to give San Diego a 4-0 lead before Ugueth Urbina recorded his first out.

Batting right-handed in the seventh, he connected against Omar Daal to center field.

Colorado 10, St. Louis 2--The Rockies ended Andy Benes’ 10-game winning streak as Eric Young and Ellis Burks combined for seven of Colorado’s 18 hits and five runs batted in at Denver.

Benes (13-9), who gave up seven runs and 13 hits in 2 2/3 innings, took his first loss since June 13.

Atlanta 4, Cincinnati 3--Pinch-hitter Luis Polonia’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth at Atlanta extended the Braves’ winning streak to six games.

Mark Lemke opened the ninth with a single against Jeff Brantley (1-2) and moved to second on an infield single by Ryan Klesko. Marquis Grissom tried to advance the runners with a bunt, but Brantley threw to third to get Lemke.

Klesko then moved to third on a wild pitch, and Polonia followed with a fly ball to right fielder Thomas Howard, whose throw was off the mark as Klesko scored standing up.

John Smoltz pitched seven innings for the Braves, but did not get a decision in his bid for his 21st victory.

Chicago 8, Florida 3--Scott Bullett, filling in for injured Sammy Sosa, homered, drove in three runs and scored three times for the Cubs at Chicago.

With Sosa probably out the remainder of the season because of a broken bone in his right hand, Bullett got the start in right field and made the most of his opportunity.

Used primarily as a spot player and pinch-hitter, he had a first-inning bunt single, stole second and scored on Mark Grace’s RBI single.

The Cubs scored five in the second against Pat Rapp (6-14). After a sacrifice and another walk loaded the bases, Bullett hit a two-run single.

Pittsburgh 5, Houston 2--Denny Neagle ended his four-game losing streak and Jeff King had four hits in the Pirates’ victory at Houston.

The Pirates ended Houston starter Mike Hampton’s four-game winning streak.

The Astros made three errors, helping Pittsburgh win for just the fourth time in 20 road games.

Neagle (13-6) had not won since beating Cincinnati, 6-4, on July 21. He gave up six hits in 6 2/3 innings.