A Birthday Bash for Bonds

Barry Bonds threw himself quite a birthday party.

Bonds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his 646th career homer only moments after making a spectacular, run-saving throw to give the San Francisco Giants their eighth consecutive victory, 3-2, over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Playing on his 39th birthday, the left fielder threw out Craig Counsell at the plate in the top of the ninth, sending fans at Pacific Bell Park into a frenzy.

Then, it got even more crazy. Bonds followed with his major league-leading 33rd homer, giving him a San Francisco record 470 to pass Willie McCovey (469).

The crowd of 42,666 remained standing for several minutes, chanting “Barry! Barry!” and Bonds stepped out of the dugout and waved.

It was Bonds’ seventh career game-ending homer, but he didn’t stick around to celebrate. He rushed off to a hospital to visit his father, Bobby, who has lung cancer.

“My dad’s in the hospital right now and I’ve got to go,” Bonds said.

Mike Myers (0-1) gave up the solo homer to left-center on his first pitch. Bonds entered the at-bat with 31 plate appearances against Myers but only two extra-base hits and two runs batted in.