Bonds’ Deposit Has Little Value

Even though the lone run that Jason Marquis surrendered was a big one, it didn’t cost the Atlanta Braves the game.

Barry Bonds hit his 54th home run in the eighth inning off Marquis, but the Braves held off the San Francisco Giants, 3-1, Saturday at Pacific Bell Park.

“I did exactly what I wanted to do,” said Marquis (3-4), who gave up only the solo homer and seven hits over 7 1/3 innings. “It was a 2-2 count and I wanted to throw a high fastball. He just got it.

“It didn’t hurt me.”

Bonds home run was the 548th of his career, tying Mike Schmidt for eighth place on the career list.

Chipper Jones hit a two-run double for the Braves, who have won the first two of a three-game series between teams fighting for first place in their divisions. Atlanta also won, 2-1, Friday night.

The Braves, who have won four in a row after dropping six consecutive games, took a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.

But Manager Bobby Cox played down the significance of the weekend.

“This series is no more important than any other,” he said. “At this stage it’s important to win every game.”

The Giants have won 17 of 22 games and remain in second place in the NL West.

“It’s not easy to take, you know,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said, “but you’re not going to win them all.”

Bonds’ single in the third inning tied him with Orlando Cepeda on the franchise hits list with 1,286, while the home run gave him sole possession of third place. He left soon after the game and didn’t talk with reporters.

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The Top 10

Career home-run leaders:

1. Hank Aaron: 755

2. Babe Ruth: 714

3. Willie Mays: 660

4. Frank Robinson: 586

5. Mark McGwire: 575

6. Harmon Killebrew: 573

7. Reggie Jackson: 563

8. (tie) Mike Schmidt, Barry Bonds: 548

10. Mickey Mantle: 536