Bonds gets ovation from Pirates’ fans

PITTSBURGH -- Put this down as one of the unexpected moments of Barry Bonds’ historic season: a standing ovation in Pittsburgh, the town that once booed him mercilessly because of his playoff failures.

Bonds, possibly playing his final game in his former home city, singled in three at-bats as the Giants lost the first game of a makeup doubleheader to the Pirates, 3-1, Monday. Bonds sat out the second game as the Giants won, 10-3, behind Ryan Klesko’s grand slam, their first victory against Pittsburgh in five games over four days.

Noah Lowry (13-7) gave up two runs and six hits over seven innings as the Giants avoided a rare feat: being swept in multiple-game series on consecutive days, and in two cities. Pittsburgh finished a three-game sweep in San Francisco on Sunday.

Bonds’ one-for-three effort made him six for 10 against his former club this season.

“That was nice, really nice,” Bonds said. “It was nice, it was great, I was happy. After all the years you played here and you come back and get that kind of welcome, it’s nice.”