Bonds Takes Fifth Alone

If Barry Bonds was excited about passing Mark McGwire on the career home run list, the San Francisco Giant slugger sure didn’t show it.

“I have no thoughts,” Bonds said. “We lost. There is no satisfaction in losing.”

Bonds hit his 584th homer to move into sole possession of fifth place, but Terry Shumpert’s three-run home run lifted the Colorado Rockies over the Giants, 6-3, Saturday at Coors Field.

Bonds connected against left-hander Denny Neagle in the fourth inning, driving the first pitch into the seats in left-center field for his 17th homer. Bonds trails Frank Robinson by two homers for fourth place all-time.

“That was a bright spot,” Manager Dusty Baker said. “A bright spot on a dark afternoon.”

The Rockies have won five in a row to move above .500 (25-24) for the first time since April 4.

Neagle departed after four innings after being hit on the left knee by Benito Santiago’s line drive. The left-hander scrambled to the ball and threw out Santiago to end the inning, then was helped to the dugout by two teammates.

Neagle has a bruised left kneecap. X-rays did not reveal a fracture or any serious damage.

“I am sore, but I have no doubt I will make my next start,” Neagle said. “I had the presence of mind to throw out Santiago, wanted to continue playing, but thought better of it.”

Chris Nichting (1-1) replaced Neagle and gave up one run and two hits in two innings. Jose Jimenez pitched the ninth for his 13th save in as many chances. Larry Walker had a two-run single for the Rockies.

Kirk Rueter (6-2) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings to lose for the first time since April 11. Rueter had won six consecutive decisions.

Colorado led, 3-0, after three innings. Opposite-field doubles by Juan Pierre and Juan Uribe produced a run in the first inning, and Walker drove in two with a one-out single in the third.

Bonds’ homer cut the deficit to 3-1. He finished one-for-four, and Ramon Martinez had two run-scoring doubles for the Giants.

San Francisco managed only two hits against Neagle, but had two hits and scored a run in the fifth inning against Nichting. Reggie Sanders reached on an infield single and, after Damon Minor walked, Martinez doubled to right to score Sanders.

The Rockies increased their lead to 6-2 on Shumpert’s two-out, three-run homer to left in the fifth inning. Rueter retired the first two batters, but Todd Helton singled and Todd Zeile doubled ahead of Shumpert’s home run.

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Bonds on Rise

*--* Barry Bonds, who broke Mark McGwire’s single-season major league home run record last season, passed McGwire for sole possession of fifth place on the all-time career list on Saturday. The top 10: 1 Hank Aaron 1954-76 755 2 Babe Ruth 1914-35 714 3 Willie Mays 1951-73 660 4 Frank Robinson 1956-76 586 5 Barry Bonds 1986- 584 6 Mark McGwire 1986-2001 583 7 Harmon Killebrew 1954-75 573 8 Reggie Jackson 1967-87 563 9 Mike Schmidt 1972-89 548 10 Mickey Mantle 1951-68 536

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