Bonds’ Homer Streak Ends, but Giants Win
PHOENIX — Barry Bonds’ home-run streak ended Wednesday night. So did the San Francisco Giants’ losing skid.
Bonds, batting cleanup for the first time since August 1999, hit an RBI single off Randy Johnson that helped the Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-1.
Bonds entered the game with the National League record for homers in six consecutive games (nine). He would have set a major league record for a seven-game span with one more home run.
Instead, he joined his teammates in ending their losing streak at three games. The Giants had dropped five of six during Bonds’ spree.
Bonds did extend his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single that gave the Giants a 3-0 lead in the third inning.
Pedro Feliz hit his first major-league home run for the Giants. Arizona lost for the third time in 10 games.
Mark Gardner (1-3) allowed three hits, including Mark Grace’s home run, in seven innings.
Gardner also had an RBI grounder off Johnson (5-4).
Johnson pitched only five innings for the second straight start. He allowed four runs and five hits.
Johnson was called back for pinch-hitter Erubiel Durazo after the Diamondbacks got two runners on with one out in the sixth.
The move backfired when Durazo, who has five pinch-hit homers, lined into a double play.
The Giants hit Johnson hard from the first batter. Shawon Dunston lined a one-hop single to left field to lead off and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Kent.
Gardner drove in a run with a groundout in the second, and the Giants moved ahead, 4-0, with two runs in the third.
Johnson walked Rich Aurilia and Kent, and Bonds hit a sharp single for the first run of the inning. Kent scored when Benito Santiago hit into a double play.
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Power Surges
Players with home runs in six or more consecutive games (with some dates including off-days and/or doubleheaders):
NATIONAL LEAGUE
*--*
8 Dale Long, Pittsburgh, 1956 May 19-28, 8 home runs 6 Barry Bonds, San Francisco, 2001 May 17-22, 9 home runs 6 Barry Bonds, San Francisco, 2001 April 12-18, 6 home runs 6 Graig Nettles, San Diego, 1984 Aug. 11-22, 7 home runs 6 Willie Mays, New York, 1955 Sept. 14-20, 7 home runs 6 Walker Cooper, New York, 1947 June 22-28, 7 home runs 6 George Kelly, New York, 1924 July 11-16, 7 home runs
*--*
AMERICAN LEAGUE
*--*
8 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle, 1993 July 20-25, July 27-28, 8 home runs 8 Don Mattingly, New York, 1987 July 8-18, 10 home runs 6 Reggie Jackson, Baltimore, 1976 July 18-23, 6 home runs 6 Frank Howard, Washington, 1968 May 12-18, 10 home runs 6 Roy Sievers, Washington, 1957 July 29-Aug. 3, 6 home runs 6 Roger Maris, New York, 1961 Aug. 11-16, 7 home runs 6 Lou Gehrig, New York, 1931 Aug. 28-31, Sept. 1, 6 home runs 6 Ken Williams, St. Louis, 1922 July 28-31, Aug. 1-2, 6 home runs
*--*
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