Bonds Answers Call, Hammers 55th Home Run

Barry Bonds hit his major league-leading 55th home run, breaking a ninth-inning tie with a pinch-hit shot to send the San Francisco Giants over the Montreal Expos, 10-5, Thursday night.

Bonds hit his 549th career homer, moving past Mike Schmidt for eighth place on the all-time list.

Bonds, out of the starting lineup for rest, batted for pitcher Felix Rodriguez (7-1) with one out in the ninth. Bonds hit a 3-1 pitch from left-handed reliever Graeme Lloyd (8-4) well over the right-field wall.

It was Bonds’ first pinch-hit home run since July 5, 1989.

“You’d hate to end the game with him on the bench, so you just try to pick the right spot,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said.

Bonds needs 16 home runs in the Giants’ final 35 games to break Mark McGwire’s record of 70 in a season.

After Bonds homered, pinch-hitter Shawon Dunston followed with a home run. Dunston’s shot was the 12th pinch-hit homer this year for the Giants, a team record.

Andres Galarraga, who hit two home runs, had a run-scoring single as the Giants scored three more times in the ninth.

Galarraga’s second homer came against Britt Reames with one out in the eighth and tied the score, 5-5. Galarraga drove in four runs.

Jeff Kent hit his 18th homer for the Giants, who moved to within 1 1/2 games of NL West-leading Arizona.

San Francisco has won 20 of its last 26.