Decision to Walk Bonds Costs Diamondbacks

Even with Randy Johnson on the mound and runners at first and second, the Diamondbacks didn’t dare pitch to Barry Bonds. This time, the guy behind Bonds made Arizona pay.

Moments after Bonds matched his major league record for intentional walks in a season, Luis Gonzalez dropped Edgardo Alfonzo’s bases-loaded liner to left field for an error that allowed the go-ahead runs to score in San Francisco’s 8-3 victory Friday night.

Jerome Williams (8-6) outpitched Johnson with six innings of three-hit ball, but all eyes were on Bonds’ matchup with Johnson.

Bonds came away with an RBI single, a line-drive out -- and the intentional walk that doomed Arizona.

Johnson (10-7) ran into trouble in the fifth, walking Williams and giving up singles to Ray Durham and Neifi Perez. With two out and runners on first and second, interim Manager Al Pedrique decided to walk Bonds intentionally. The San Francisco crowd booed and waved dozens of rubber chickens.

Gonzalez then got his glove on Alfonzo’s drive, but couldn’t hang on, allowing two runs to score. Center fielder Steve Finley picked up the ball and made a bad throw to the infield, permitting Bonds to score for a 6-3 lead.

When the Diamondbacks got back to their dugout after the inning ended, several players could be seen scurrying quickly toward some activity in the tunnel to the visiting locker room. The team didn’t immediately say what had occurred, though the players appeared agitated.

With nearly half the season still to play, Bonds tied his 2002 season record with his 68th intentional walk.

Johnson gave up six hits and three walks in five innings, adding six strikeouts to his major league-leading total of 145, but was never dominating. He has lost three of his last five starts amid increasing trade speculation.