Bonds Takes Kent’s Spotlight Again

Barry Bonds homered and the Giants spoiled Jeff Kent’s return to San Francisco with a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night at Pacific Bell Park.

The Giants improved to 12-1, keeping pace with their best start in 65 years.

Kent, the 2000 National League most valuable player who played the previous six years in San Francisco, went one for two with two walks and a run batted in. He signed an $18.2 million, two-year contract in the off-season with the Astros, who have lost three in a row after winning four of five.

Kent, who had a stormy relationship with several of his San Francisco teammates, was met with a loud round of boos as he came to bat in the first inning. But applause soon drowned out the boos, and many fans stood to cheer him.

Kent, a three-time All-Star with the Giants, hit .299 and averaged 29 home runs during his tenure in San Francisco. He helped lead the Giants to the World Series last season.

Damian Moss (2-0) gave up a run and five hits to earn the victory. He walked three and struck out three as the Giants beat Houston for the 17th time in 22 games.

Tim Worrell pitched the ninth for his sixth save in seven opportunities, giving up an RBI double to Geoff Blum.

The Giants’ 12-1 start matches their best since the 1938 team also began 12-1. Only the 1918 Giants started better at 18-1.

Wade Miller (0-1) gave up four runs, four hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and is 0-3 against San Francisco.

Bonds drove in San Francisco’s first run with his fifth home run of the year, a majestic shot to lead off the second inning that landed in McCovey Cove beyond right field.

Kent drove in Houston’s first run with a sharp single to right field with two out in the fifth. Jeff Bagwell was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.

Colorado 5, Arizona 3 -- Larry Walker drove in four runs with his first two homers of the season and Nelson Cruz became the fourth Colorado pitcher to win three games in April as the Rockies won at Phoenix.

Byung-Hyun Kim, Arizona’s closer before this season, gave up one run -- Preston Wilson’s solo homer -- and five hits through six innings before leaving with a bruised right shin. He was struck in the shin by a piece of Wilson’s broken bat on a groundout leading off the sixth.

Montreal 5, New York 3 -- Fernando Tatis hit an opposite-field, two-run single in the eighth inning off David Weathers to help the Expos win at San Juan, Puerto Rico for their fifth consecutive victory. New York (4-9) lost its sixth in a row and reliever Mike Stanton strained a calf muscle, joining Cliff Floyd (Achilles’ tendon) and Mo Vaughn (sore knee) on the injured list.

Cincinnati 11, Chicago 3 -- Jason LaRue doubled three times and Sean Casey had three hits to help the Reds beat Mark Prior at Chicago. Jose Guillen hit a two-run homer, while Casey and Felipe Lopez each drove in two runs. The Reds put shortstop Barry Larkin on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day because of a strained left calf muscle.

St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 5 -- Orlando Palmeiro tied a career high with four RBIs as the Cardinals kept the Brewers winless at home. Cardinal left fielder Albert Pujols left the game after being hit in his right thumb by a fastball thrown by Curtis Leskanic in the seventh. X-rays were negative and his status is day-to-day.

Philadelphia 5, Florida 2 -- Jim Thome hit a two-run triple and made two solid plays in the field, leading the Phillies at Philadelphia. The Phillies have won three in a row and five of seven.