Bonds Hits No. 712 in Loss to Padres

The San Diego Padres were in a perfect situation to challenge Barry Bonds: a three-run lead in the eighth inning with nobody on base.

Giant fans got what they came to see, and now Bonds is two home runs from tying the Babe.

Bonds hit his 712th homer in San Francisco’s 5-3 loss to San Diego on Tuesday at San Francisco, moving him even closer to matching Babe Ruth’s total for second place on the career list.

Bonds sent a full-count fastball from Scott Linebrink over the center-field wall for a solo shot that traveled an estimated 440 feet. Linebrink became the 419th pitcher to surrender a homer to Bonds.

“The fast ones I’m able to see. The slower ones I’m missing,” Bonds said, smiling. “He challenged me one time too many.”

The seven-time National League most valuable player came home to chants of “Barry! Barry!” and a loud standing ovation, and he gave the fans a wave before disappearing into the dugout.

Cincinnati 3, St. Louis 2 -- Javier Valentin’s ninth-inning single over a drawn-in infield sent the Reds to a two-game sweep of the Cardinals at Cincinnati.

Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion added solo homers for the Reds (19-8), who moved a season-high 11 games over .500. The NL Central leaders also lead the league in victories.

Atlanta 5, Colorado 4 -- Marcus Giles had four hits, including a run-scoring double with two out in the eighth inning at Atlanta.

Giles, hitting .195 before the game, had three straight singles and scored the Braves’ first run before coming through with the game-winning hit off Jose Mesa.

Philadelphia 7, Florida 5 -- Aaron Rowand hit a bases-loaded triple to cap Philadelphia’s comeback and give Jon Lieber his first victory of the season.

The last-place Marlins fell to 2-9 in Miami, and they’ve lost eight of their last nine overall.

Washington 6, New York 2 -- Alfonso Soriano hit a long two-run homer and Mike O’Connor stymied the Mets at New York for his first major league win.

Pittsburgh 8, Chicago 0 -- Zach Duke baffled the Cubs again, giving up five hits at Chicago and pitching the first shutout and complete game of his career. Duke (2-2) is 4-0 in his career against the Cubs, including 2-0 this season.

Houston 8, Milwaukee 5 -- Fernando Nieve pitched seven innings at Milwaukee to earn his first major league win.

Nieve helped the Astros (17-9) match their best record in franchise history by retiring 14 in a row at one point, giving up four runs and six hits with seven strikeouts. The Astros also started 17-9 in 1980.

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CHASING RUTH

Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Babe Ruth for second place among all-time home run hitters:

* Tuesday: Bonds homered to straightaway center field off San Diego’s Scott Linebrink with two out and no one on, his fourth of the season, in the eighth inning of a 5-3 loss to the Padres at AT&T; Park.

* On the charts: The home run was the 712th of Bonds’ career, leaving him two short of Ruth, and 43 behind all-time leader Hank Aaron. Ruth hit his 712th home run on May 25, 1935, while playing for the Boston Braves, a first-inning shot off Pittsburgh’s Red Lucas.

* By the numbers: Linebrink became the 419th pitcher to allow a home run to Bonds. It was Bonds’ 82nd hit against the Padres, the most he has had against any opponent.

* Today: The Giants begin a five-game trip with a game at Milwaukee. Dave Bush, the Brewers’ probable starter, has never faced Bonds in his three-year major league career.