Bonds Homers in Win

Barry Bonds hit his first home run in 13 games and Marquis Grissom also homered in San Francisco’s 12th win in 14 games, a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Bonds hit an 0-and-1 pitch from Mark Redman into the seats in right-center for his 19th homer -- and No. 677 of his career. He hadn’t homered since June 13 at Baltimore, a span of 32 at-bats.

“I don’t have to explain it,” he said of the drought. “As long as we win.”

The solo shot tied the score, 1-1. The only thing Bonds would say about the homer was that he hit a fastball. Redman, pitching on three days’ rest, had retired seven in a row before the homer -- he became the 402nd pitcher to give up a homer to the six-time NL most valuable player.

Bonds drew two more walks, one intentional, and has been walked a majors-leading 109 times, 57 intentionally, through 66 games.

“It’s the same type of vicious cycle,” Giant Manager Felipe Alou said. “They don’t pitch to him and he loses his stroke. They see he loses his stroke and pitch to him again. Then he hits a few and they stop pitching to him.”

Dustin Hermanson (3-2) won for the first time in four starts. He gave up two runs and seven hits, struck out three and walked four in 6 2/3 innings. Matt Herges pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

The Giants broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth. Yorvit Torrealba scored on Dustan Mohr’s suicide squeeze bunt, then Grissom connected for his 11th homer, sending a 1-and-1 pitch over the left-field wall. After Bonds walked and advanced on a wild pitch, Edgardo Alfonzo singled him home for a 4-1 lead.