Bonds Ties Robinson in Giant Win

L.A. Times Archives

June 3, 2002 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO —

Barry Bonds is honored his name is right up there on the home run list with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson.

But what matters now, he said, is wins.

Bonds hit his 586th home run to tie Robinson for fourth place on the list, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-2, Sunday night at San Francisco to end a losing streak at four games.

“This victory means more to us right now,” Bonds said. “Every team goes through a spell where they’re not hitting the ball. Today we came together.”

Bonds hit a high-arching solo shot, driving a 3-2 pitch from Brian Fuentes into the right-center bleachers in the seventh inning for his 19th homer of the season, matching the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa for the major league lead.

Benito Santiago added a three-run homer and Jason Schmidt (1-1) pitched seven strong innings for the Giants, who beat the Rockies for the first time in six tries this season.

“I’m just trying to play to win. Right now, were in a little down spell,” Bonds said. “Hopefully we’ll pick it up.”

The Rockies, who won the first two games of the weekend series, have never swept the Giants in San Francisco. Colorado lost for just the third time in 13 games.

With one out in the first inning, David Bell and Bonds singled. Bell scored on Jeff Kent’s double before Santiago’s shot off John Thomson (6-4) into the left-field bleachers.

Kent scored Bell with a double in the third to make it 5-0. Schmidt doubled in the fourth and scored on Reggie Sanders’ single.

Schmidt gave up one run on five hits. He struck out nine. Fuentes said he left a fastball against Bonds “a little up.”

“I got too much of the plate and he drove it,” he said.

The reigning National League most valuable player hit a single-season record 73 home runs last season. With one more to go to surpass Robinson, Bonds’ next target on the list is his godfather, Mays, who has 660. Ruth hit 714, and Aaron holds the record with 755.

“I really appreciate what they’ve done for the game and I’m honored to be in the same class,” Bonds said.

Damon Minor doubled in the fifth inning to score Bonds. Tsuyoshi Shinjo added an RBI grounder. Thomson gave up a season-high eight runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three. The Rockies scored in the sixth.

Larry Walker, back in the lineup after missing two games because of a sore elbow, walked and scored on Todd Helton’s double.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Home Run List

San Francisco’s Barry Bonds hit his 586th home run Sunday to tie Frank Robinson for the fourth-highest home run total:

Player No.

1. Hank Aaron...755

2. Babe Ruth...714

3. Willie Mays...660

4. Frank Robinson...586

Barry Bonds...586

6. Mark McGwire...583

7. Harmon Killebrew...573