Willis keeps Bonds at bay

Barry Bonds wanted a pitcher to challenge him. Dontrelle Willis was more than ready.

Hopping off the mound, pumping his fist and throwing fastball after fastball, Willis kept history on hold Saturday night.

Bonds was hitless a night after connecting for his 754th home run, leaving the San Francisco star one shy of tying Hank Aaron’s record in the Giants’ 4-3 win over the Florida Marlins.

With his mom in the stands, Willis overmatched the slugger he admired growing up in the Bay Area. In the end, Bonds could only stand at home plate -- right in the way of the catcher, actually -- and watch a popup on his final swing.

“Willis didn’t mess around,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “He cranked it up when Barry was up there.”

Bonds was 0 for 3 with a walk. He popped out twice and struck out against Willis, who has lost seven straight decisions for the longest skid of his big league career. Willis grew up just across San Francisco Bay in Alameda and often watched Bonds at Candlestick Park as a kid.

“Everybody else had enough excitement,” Willis said. “I had to stay poised and go out there and try to execute, and I was able to do that today. Hats off to him. I wish him all the best. Hopefully he does it after we leave. He’s a great individual.”

Bonds, on deck when Ray Durham got the winning single in the ninth, gets another chance in the finale with Florida today. The Marlins will send Sergio Mitre to the mound.

Bonds said he enjoyed celebrating Durham’s hit, dancing with teammates at second base.

“It’s about the team,” the slugger said, making his way out of the clubhouse.

If Bonds doesn’t homer twice today, he will take his pursuit of the record to Dodger Stadium after a day off Monday.

Fans jumped to their feet each time Bonds made his way to the batter’s box Saturday, then began their routine chants of “Barry! Barry!” Bonds connected for his 754th homer in the first inning a night earlier, then drew four walks the rest of the game.

Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball’s president and chief operating officer, took in Saturday’s contest in place of Bud Selig while the commissioner was in Cooperstown, N.Y., for today’s Hall of Fame ceremony.

Bonds’ teammates hung over the dugout rail in anticipation, lining up in one of the best possible places to see another milestone shot. The Marlins did it too.

Bochy said before the game that his players are excited for Bonds.

“You can see it. You can feel it down here in the dugout -- excitement, electricity,” Bochy said. “You look up and all the focus is on Barry’s at-bat. No question all the guys down here feel it. It’s history.”

Bonds struck out in the first, popped to second in the third, walked in the sixth and then popped out to the catcher in the seventh.

In 11 plate appearances against Willis, Bonds has singled once, struck out twice and walked five times. The first-inning strikeout of Bonds was No. 700 of Willis’ career.

“It doesn’t mean as much as 700 home runs,” Willis said. “Maybe he’ll sign my ball.”