Bonds helps Giants end skid

Barry Bonds barely missed his 751st home run. That fifth-inning at-bat was the only chance he got too.

The San Francisco slugger settled for a run-scoring double and also walked three times in the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, which ended a three-game skid.

Bonds hesitated and watched his hard-hit ball before seeing it land just below the right-field arcade and realizing he’d better start moving a little faster. Fans jumped to their feet but didn’t get to see what they hoped for: Bonds moving another step closer to Hank Aaron’s home run record of 755 a night after he connected for No. 750.

It was the 376th double for Bonds with the Giants, tying him with his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, for most in San Francisco history.

Bonds drew his 80th, 81st and 82nd free passes of the year. The Giants’ victory marked only the second time in 11 meetings with Arizona this year that wasn’t decided by one run.

Bonds stepped in to chants of “Barry! Barry!” to start the seventh, but those quickly turned to boos directed at Dustin Nippert for walking the seven-time NL MVP.

Bengie Molina hit a two-run double in the first inning for the Giants after Orlando Hudson had given Arizona a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top half of the inning.

Noah Lowry (8-6) won his fifth consecutive decision against the Diamondbacks. The former Pepperdine star hasn’t lost to them since April 20, 2005. He had a no-decision on June 7 at Chase Field, a 5-4 win by the Giants in 11 innings.

This time, Lowry yielded one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings, walking three. Brad Hennessey pitched the ninth for his fourth save in six chances.

Before the game, Bonds said it’s up to Major League Baseball and the Giants to decide how much security is needed around him as he closes in on Aaron’s mark.