Giants Lose Bonds and Game, 10-9

In the seventh inning Saturday, Barry Bonds helped spark a San Francisco rally with a home run. Two innings later, he was carted off the field after injuring his back.

Adding to the pain, the Giants lost to Colorado, 10-9, on Brian Hunter’s infield single in the eighth inning at Denver.

The extent of the injury probably won’t be known until today, but Giant Manager Dusty Baker looked dazed after the game, rubbing his head as he pondered a future without his top player.

“No answers,” Baker said. “The doctors don’t even have any answers, so how can I have any answers? . . . He ain’t going to play [today]. I know that.”

Bonds, tied for the major league lead with 15 home runs, grimaced as he hit a ground ball to second and got three steps out of the batter’s box before falling to the ground.

He remained on his stomach for several minutes before waving away a stretcher as he was helped to his feet. Bonds eventually was taken from the field on the back of a maintenance cart.

“I knew it was something,” Baker said. “When I got out there, he was in such pain he couldn’t move. He could move his feet, although he had a little pain down his legs, so that’s a good sign.”

The Giants at least have a blueprint for playing without Bonds. They went 25-22 last season when he missed 47 games while recovering from surgery on his left elbow.

The situation is compounded this time as San Francisco must chase first-place Arizona in the National League West without Bonds and fellow outfielder Ellis Burks, who was put on the disabled list Saturday because of a strained left quadriceps.

Cincinnati 8, Houston 7--Ken Griffey Jr. hit two home runs at Houston, including a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth inning that gave the Reds their sixth consecutive victory.

Michael Tucker, Griffey and Dmitri Young hit consecutive home runs in the eighth that tied the score, 6-6. Houston took the lead in the bottom half on Richard Hidalgo’s run-scoring double.

Astro closer Billy Wagner got two outs in the ninth before walking pinch-hitter Dante Bichette. Griffey connected on an 0-2 pitch, hitting a drive into the right-field seats for his 12th home run.

Atlanta 3, Philadelphia 2--Steve Sisco’s first major league hit was a big one, a two-run home run in the 10th inning that lifted the Braves over the Phillies at Philadelphia.

The game was delayed 2 hours, 57 minutes because of rain in the top of the seventh.

Bobby Bonilla led off the 10th with a single off Scott Aldred. Pinch-runner Mark DeRosa moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Sisco’s blast into the left-field bullpen.

Rudy Seanez escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the ninth by striking out Mike Lieberthal. John Rocker struck out the side in the 10th, but gave up one run to earn his ninth save.

Arizona 6, San Diego 2--Todd Stottlemyre joined teammate Randy Johnson as baseball’s only seven-game winners as the Diamondbacks improved their franchise-record winning streak to nine with a victory at San Diego.

Stottlemyre held the Padres to a one unearned run on five hits over six innings. Stottlemyre struck out a season-high eight and walked three.

The streak has lifted the Diamondbacks’ record to a major-league best 26-10. Arizona has defeated the Padres six consecutive times, including five during the streak.

Chicago 2, Montreal 1--Jon Lieber won his third consecutive decision, pitching the Cubs past the Expos at Montreal.

Lieber gave up eight hits in his second complete game. He struck out five and walked none.

Tony Armas Jr. gave up two runs and three hits in five innings in his season debut with the Expos. Making only his second major league start, he also walked five, and two of them came in to score.

Pittsburgh 11, Milwaukee 8--Bruce Aven hit his first two home runs, including a tiebreaking shot in the seventh inning that sent the Pirates past the Brewers at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates fell behind, 5-0, in the first inning but rallied to end a streak of seven consecutive home losses to the Brewers.

Wil Cordero and Brian Giles also hit home runs for Pittsburgh. Charlie Hayes and Henry Blanco homered for the Brewers.