Bonds Sits One Out as Giants Win, 10-1

Barry Bonds on Wednesday played cards while his manager vented, watched baseball while his team played the Houston Astros, and returned to the Bay Area as he left it -- one home run short of Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

After playing eight consecutive games and not homering, Bonds chose to accept the day off Manager Felipe Alou prescribed. The Giants, who beat the Astros, 10-1, sweeping the three-game series, begin an interleague series Friday against the Oakland Athletics, in which Bonds will be the designated hitter, protecting his knee from the strain of left field.

A Major League Baseball spokesperson said the commissioner’s office would investigate Bonds’ fifth-inning at-bat Tuesday night, in which Astros reliever Russ Springer narrowly missed Bonds with four pitches before hitting him in the back with the fifth. Springer, who was ejected, would be suspended if baseball determined that he purposely hit Bonds, as was apparent.

Wednesday night’s game was played under what Alou called “a gentlemen’s agreement” between himself and Astros Manager Phil Garner, a truce forged in a pregame meeting with umpires.

Alou suggested he believed Springer intentionally hit Bonds but seemed most upset that fans at Minute Maid Park responded with a standing ovation for Springer. Bonds declined to address the issue and Giants pitchers did not retaliate.

“It bothered me a lot, yeah, because there’s a lot of children here to watch it,” he said. “I’m not talking about people getting hit, I’m talking about people” clapping.

Alou said he did not feel obligated to protect Bonds, who has drawn criticism for allegedly using steroids. The reaction to Bonds away from San Francisco has been harsh.

“I’m not here defending Barry,” Alou said. “Barry is big enough to defend Barry. The system defends Barry. Common sense and honesty defend Barry. Intelligence will defend him.”

Bonds also dealt with his third uniform violation of the season. On April 19, he was fined $5,000 because two logos on his wristbands were larger than MLB allows. During this series, after receiving a letter from the league that advised him his shoes had too much gray in them, Bonds switched to an all-black shoe and avoided another fine.