King of the World: Barry Bonds Chases Sadaharu Oh

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Monday, June 21, and the Giants are hosting the Brewers in the first of a three-game series at 3Com Park. Hideo Nomo is pitching for the Brewers, while Mark Gardner takes the hill for the Giants. Bonds in in left field and will bat sixth, as his replacement Stan Javier did in real life. The Brewers won the actual game, 8-1. This game is being nationally televised by NBC.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he grounded to second.

In the fourth with the Giants already leading 1-0, Bill Mueller drew a leadoff walk. Right fielder Armando Rios' bloop fell in the left center power alley for a double, which scored Mueller and extended the Frisco lead to 2-0. Jeff Kent followed with a shot down the left field line that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. Rios was awarded home plate, and it was 3-0 Giants. J.T. Snow was next, and he hit a 1-1 curveball from Brewers starter Hideo Nomo over the wall in right center for a two-run homer, his twenty-fifth of the year. The Giants now led 5-0, David Weathers replaced Nomo and retired Bonds on a fly to right for the first out.

In the fifth, Bonds singled up the middle, then stole second.

In the seventh, catcher Brent Mayne lined a leadoff single up the middle. Gardner batted for himself and singled to left to put two men on. Marvin Benard walked to load the bases, and a four-pitch walk to Mueller brought Mayne home with the sixth Frisco run. Rios hit a sharp grounder to Brewers first baseman Mark Loretta, who threw to catcher Dave Nilsson at home plate to cut down the incoming Gardner. Kent followed with a bloop single to left center that brought home Benard and Mueller tom make it 8-0. Rios moved to third on the hit.

Weathers departed in favor of Mike Myers, who walked Snow to load the bases, then Bonds to force Rios home with the ninth Giants run. Rich Aurilia topped off the inning by lining a base hit to left center that scored Kent to give the home squad a 10-0 lead.

The game's only other run was scored when Benard led off the bottom of the first with a home run over the left center field wall, his twentieth of the year.

Bonds finished one for three plus a walk with an RBI and a stolen base. He's now batting .264 (124-470) with forty-five home runs and 118 runs batted in. He's now tied with the Reds' Greg Vaughn for ninth place in the National League RBI race. By my unofficial count, he's stolen eighteen bases in twenty attempts, which translates to a stolen base percentage of ninety percent, four points behind the Phillies' Doug Glanville. He's now walked ninety-four times.

Final totals: Giants 10-11-1, Brewers 0-4-0.

W- Gardner (5-11)
L- Nomo (11-9)

HR- SF: Snow (25), Benard (20)

LHR- MIL: Burmitz (32), Valentin (9)

Kent was named Player of the Game by NBC. He was two for four with two runs scored and three RBIs.\

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 99-63
Giants: 90-72- 9 GB
Dodgers: 77-85- 22 GB
Padres: 74-88- 25 GB
Rockies: 71-91- 28 GB

In the Central:

Astros: 97-65
Reds: 96-66- 1 GB
Pirates: 77-84- 19.5 GB
Cardinals: 76-85- 20.5 GB
Brewers: 74-87- 22.5 GB
Cubs: 67-95- 30 GB

In real time, the Giants were 44-27 and had a three and a half game lead on the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Next: The Giants host the Rockies in Game 3 of a four-game series on Wednesday, June 30. Brian Bohanon will start for the Rockies, while Russ Ortiz takes the hill for the Giants. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN, with first pitch at 8PM Eastern. Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will call the action.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

As a special treat, here's the first of four unplayed games in Bonds' career. It's 1988, and Barry leads the Pittsburgh Pirates into Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium to take on the Braves. Bob Walk takes the mound for the Pirates, while Rick Mahler's on the hill for the Braves. The game is being nationally televised by NBC, with Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola on the call, Bonds is in left field and batting third.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

The Bucs got on the board with two runs in the top of the first. Second baseman Jose Lind whacked the first pitch from Mahler into the right center power alley for a double. Catcher Mike LaValliere followed with a single to right that scored Chico and gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead. Bonds forced LaValliere for out number one, but center fielder Andy Van Slyke beat out a bouncer to third for an infield single to put two men on, and third baseman Bobby Bonilla followed with a fly ball to left that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. Bonds was awarded home plate, and it was 2-0 Pittsburgh.

In the second, Bonds struck out swinging.

In the fourth, he took a called third strike.

In the sixth with the Braves leading 6-2, Lind led off with a base hit to right. LaValliere's single to left center put two men on, but Bonds went down swinging for out number one. Van Slyke flew to center for the second out, but Bonilla's bloop fell in shallow right center field and bounced all the way to the wall. Lind and LaValliere both scored, and the Bucs were back within 6-5 while Bonilla pulled in at second with a double.

In the eighth, Bonds struck out swinging.

Bonds finished hitless in five at-bats with a run scored and struck out four times. He's now batting .280 (152-543) with twenty-four home runs and fifty-eight runs batted in. He's now struck out eighty-six times. His on-base percentage has dropped to .365, good for ninth in the National League, two points ahead of the Reds' Eric Davis.

His slugging percentage has dropped to .486, good for eighth in the National League, three points ahead of the Dodgers' Kirk Gibson. His OPS is .851, which means that he's in ninth place in the National League, two points ahead of the Cubs' Andre Dawson. He's now scored ninety-eight runs, good for seventh in the National League. He now has 268 total bases, which ties him for eighth in the National League with the Astros' Glenn Davis.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Braves erased the Pirates' lead with three runs in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Albert Hall beat out a grounder to short for a leadoff infield single. Center fielder Dion James flew to Bonds in shallow left for out number one, but second baseman Ron Gant's single to left center put runners at the comers. A wild pitch from Walk brought Hall home to put the Braves on the board, Gant moved to second, and he scored when left fielder Dale Murphy singled to right to tie the game at two, First baseman Gerald Perry's base hit to right, the Braves' fourth hit of the inning, moved Murphy to third, and Dale scored the go-ahead run when third baseman Kenny Oberkfell bounced into a force play,

The Bucs tied the game again with a run in the top of the third. Van Slyke lined a leadoff single up the middle. Bonilla flew to right for the first out, but first baseman Sid Bream's single to left center moved Van Slyke to third. Right fielder R.J. Reynolds blooped a single to left that brought Van Slyke home to tie the game at three.

I lost the sim at that point. I don't have final totals, but I remember that the Braves won 8-7. Shortstop Andres Thomas homered for the Braves. (This is why I present Bonds' at-bats first; they're the most important part of the thread, and I don't want to lose them if I accidentally delete the sim. The rest of the game action is a bonus, although I certainly enjoy writing it,)

W- Mahler (10-16)
S- Assenmacher (6)
L- Walk (12-11)

HR- ATL: Thomas (14)

Here are the updated standings in the National League East:

New York Mets: 100-60
Pittsburgh Pirates: 85-76- 15.5 GB
Montreal Expos: 81-81- 20 GB
Chicago Cubs: 77-85- 24 GB
St. Louis Cardinals: 76-86- 25 GB
Philadelphia Phillies: 65-96- 35.5 GB

In the National League West:

Los Angeles Dodgers: 94-67
Cincinnati Reds: 87-74- 7 GB
San Diego Padres: 83-78- 11 GB
San Francisco Giants: 83-79- 11.5 GB
Houston Astros: 82-80- 12.5 GB
Atlanta Braves: 55-106- 39 GB

Next: To be determined,

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for the second of Bonds' four unplayed games. It's another 1988 game between the Pirates and the Braves at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. Doug Drabek will pitch for the Pirates, while Tommy Glavine goes to the hill for the Braves. Bonds in in left field and will bat third. This game will be nationally televised by ABC, with Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, and Tim McCarver on the call.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the top of the first with two out, he doubled to center. After a walk to Andy Van Slyke, Bobby Bonilla whacked a ball off the top of the right field wall that missed being a home run by no more than two inches. Bonds and Van Slyke both scored to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead, while Bobby Bo pulled in at third with a triple. First baseman Sid Bream followed with a grounder deep in the hole at third. The Braves' Kenny Oberkfell made a backhanded stop, but his throw to first pulled Gerald Perry off the bag. Bonilla came home from third, and it was 3-0 Pittsburgh.

The Pirates added four more runs in the second. Shortstop Rafael Belliard led off with a lined single to left. Drabek's bunt in front of the plate was fielded by Braves catcher Ozzie Virgil, who threw to first for the out as Belliard moved to second, Chico Lind's single up the middle brought Belliard home, and the Bucs led 4-0. Mike LaValliere's single to right put runners at the corners, and then it was Barry's turn. First, here's the national call from Al Michaels:

'And so here we are again, waiting on history. Count me as one of those who has misgivings about all of this, but this is still a milestone in the eyes of baseball. One ball and one strike to Barry Bonds, who's one home run away from eight hundred and seventy away from the worldwide record held by Sadaharu Oh. This game is being televised in Japan, as are many of Bonds' games nowadays. Let's just say Mr. Bonds isn't all that popular on that side of the Pacific, for obvious reasons. One-one from Glavine, AND THAT'S A FLY BALL DEEP TO RIGHT! HALL BACK, TO THE TRACK, AT THE WALL, AND THERE IT IS! THE EIGHT HUNDREDTH HOMER IN BARRY BONDS' CAREER! NOW OH IS DEAD AHEAD!"

Now for a more joyous call from the voice of the Pirates, Lanny Frattare:

"After the disastrous 0 for 5 in Game 1 with four strikeouts, Bonds doubled in the first to start the Bucs' three-run rally. Now it's Lind at third, LaValliere at first, and the count one ball and one strike. Flashbulbs go off every time Bonds is at the plate these days, and now would be a good time to really light things up with Number 800. Glavine checks the runners, but they're not going. One-one pitch........HIGH FLY BALL, DEEP RIGHT FIELD, GOING BACK IS HALL, GO BALL, GET OUTTA HERE! HE;S DONE IT!!!!!!!!!.......NUMBER EIGHT HUNDRED IS A THREE-RUN HOMER FOR BARRY BONDS, AND THE PIRATES LEAD THE ATLANTA BRAVES 7-0!.............We hoped and prayed that Barry would hit this historic home run in black and gold, and our wish, along with those of the vast majority of Pirates fans, has just come true,"

In the fourth with the Pirates leading 8-0, he led off the inning by popping up to Oberkfell at third. After Van Slyke struck out swinging, Bonilla hit a 1-2 curveball from Braves reliever Kevin Coffman down the right field line and over the fence for a home run, his twenty-sixth of the year. The Pirates now led 9-0.

In the sixth, his line drive was caught by Braves first baseman Gerald Perry.

In the eighth, Lind and LaValliere drew back-to-back walks with two out against Braves reliever Juan Eichelberger. Bonds followed with his second three-run homer of the night, a fly down the right field line that just managed to elude Hall's glove and go over the fence. It was his twenty-sixth home run of the year and Number 801 for his career, and it gave the Bucs a 12-0 lead. He is now sixty-seven home runs behind worldwide leader Sadaharu Oh.

Bonds finished three for five with three runs scored. two home runs, and six runs batted in. He's now batting .283 (155-548) with twenty-six home runs and sixty-four runs batted in. He's now scored 101 runs, which puts him in a tie for fourth in the National League with the Mets' Darryl Strawberry and just eight behind league leader Brett Butler of the Giants. He now has 288 total bases, which puts him sixth in the National League. He now has thirty-one doubles, one behind a four-way tie for seventh.

His on-base percentage remains at .368. which is good for seventh place in the National League, three points behind the Cubs' Mark Grace for sixth. He has a slugging percentage of an even ,500, which is good for sixth in the National League, four points behind the Cubs' Andre Dawson. His OPS of .868 is fourth in the National League, eight points ahead of the Dodgers' Kirk Gibson.

The only inning when the Bucs scored without Bonds' involvement was the third. They were leading 7-0 when Reynolds slapped a single to right center with one out. Belliard's single to left center put runners at the corners. Drabek went down swinging for the second out, but Braves shortstop Andres Thomas mishandled Lind's bouncer to short, which allowed Reynolds to score the eighth Pittsburgh run,

Final totals: Pirates 12-13-0, Braves 0-7-3.

W- Drabek (16-7)
L- Glavine (7-18)

HR- PIT: Bonds 2 (26), Bonilla (26)

Bonds was named Player of the Game by ABC for obvious reasons, but Drabek also deserves a salute. He went the distance, pitching a seven-hit shutout while walking one and striking out two, He threw 103 pitches.

Here are the updated standings in the National League East:

Mets: 100-60
Pirates: 86-76- 15 GB
Expos: 81-81- 20 GB
Cubs: 77-85- 24 GB
Cardinals: 76-86- 25 GB
Phillies: 65-96- 35.5 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 94-67
Reds: 87-74- 7 GB
Padres: 83-78- 11 GB
Giants: 83-79- 11.5 GB
Astros: 82-80- 12.5 GB
Braves: 55-107- 39,5 GB

Next: To be determined.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for the third of Bonds' four unplayed games. It's 2003, and the Giants are at Shea Stadium in New York to battle the Mets. Jason Schmidt will start for the Giants, while Steve Trachsel goes to the mound for the Mets. Bonds is in left field and will bat second.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the top of the first, Bonds drew a one-out walk. First baseman Andres Galarraga's bloop double fell in left center field to score Bonds and put the Giants in front 1-0, Center fielder Marquis Grissom smacked a base hit to left that scored Galarraga to make it 2-0, Next was right fielder Jose Cruz Jr., whose base hit up the middle-moved Grissom to third. Trachsel finally got the second out when catcher Benito Santiago went down swinging, but shortstop Rich Aurilia banged a double off the wall in right to score Grissom and put the visitors up 3-0.

In the second, he walked again.

In the fifth, he walked for the third time.

In the seventh, he was walked intentionally.

Bonds didn't have an official at-bat; he walked four times, one of them intentionally. He's batting .341 (133-390) with forty-five home runs and ninety runs batted in. He's now walked a league-leading 152 times. sixty-two of them intentionally. His on-base percentage has risen to .533, while his slugging percentage remains at .749. This makes his OPS 1.282. All three numbers lead the major leagues.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Mets got on the board in the bottom of the second. Left fielder Cliff Floyd led off with a fly ball to center that was juggled and dropped by Grissom. Catcher Mike Piazza walked to put two men on, and shortstop Jose Reyes beat out a bouncer to second for an infield single to load the bases. Third baseman Ty Wigginton struck out swinging for out number one, but Schmidt's wild pitch allowed Floyd to score the first New York run.

The Mets took the lead for good with three runs in the third. Center fielder Roger Cedeno lined a leadoff single up the middle. First baseman Jason Phillps doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third, and right fielder Jeromy Burnitz's sacrifice fly to Grissom in deep center scored Cedeno to cut the Giants' lead to 3-2. Floyd followed with a triple into the left field corner that scored Phillips to tie the game at three, and Piazza hit a fly to left that dropped on the warning track and bounced over the wall for a book-rule double. Floyd trotted home, and the Mets had a 4-3 lead, which they would keep for the rest of the evening.

Final totals: Mets 4-7-1, Giants 3-6-1.

W- Trachsel (17-10)
S- Benitez (22)
L- Schmidt (17-6)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

San Francisco Giants: 100-62
Los Angeles Dodgers: 85-77- 15 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks: 84-78- 14 GB
Colorado Rockies: 74-88- 26 GB
San Diego Padres: 64-98- 36 GB

In the National League East:

Atlanta Braves: 101-61
Florida Marlins: 91-71- 10 GB
Philadelphia Phillies: 86-76- 15 GB
Montreal Expos: 83-79- 18 GB
New York Mets: 67-95- 34 GB

Next: To be determined.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's time for the fourth and final unplayed game in Bonds' career. It's 2006, and the Giants are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Matt Morris will pitch for the Giants, while Jason Marquis starts for the Cardinals. Bonds is in center field and will bat third.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first. he grounded to short.

In the third, he flew to the Cardinals' Jim Edmonds in shallow center.

In the fifth with the score tied at one, Bonds led off by hitting Marquis' 1-1 fastball into the second row of seats in right field for his twenty-seventh home run of the season to put the Giants in front 2-1. It was career homer Number 802. He is now sixty-six home runs behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh.

Second baseman Ray Durham followed with a home run of his own, a line drive over the right center field fence that increased the Frisco lead to 3-1. It was his second home run of the game and his twenty-eighth of the year.

In the eighth, he flew to right center.

In the tenth, he singled to right.

In the twelfth with the score tied at three, Bonds drew a one-out walk. Durham followed by hitting Cardinals reliever Jeff Weaver's first pitch over the wall in right center for his third home run of the night and twenty-ninth of the year, The Giants led by the game's eventual final score, 5-3.

Bonds finished two for five with a home run and two runs scored. He's now batting .271 (101-372) with twenty-seven home runs and seventy-eight runs batted in, He's now walked 116 times, which leads the National League and is good for third place in the majors, three behind the Red Sox' David Ortiz.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Redbirds took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first. With one out, first baseman Albert Pujols walked. Right fielder Chris Duncan struck out swinging for the second out, but third baseman Scott Rolen doubled off the right field wall to bring Pujols home and put the home squad up 1-0,

The Giants tied the game in the top of the second when Durham his Marquis' 0-1 pitch over the center field wall for his first of three homers on the day and his twenty-seventh dinger of the year.

The Giants took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth, With one put, shortstop David Eckstein lined a base hit to right center. Pujola hit a scorching line drive of his own which was gloved by Aurilia at short for the second out, but Duncan tied the game and ended Morris' evening by lining a 1-2 curveball over the right field wall for a two-run homer, his twenty-third of the year.

Final totals: Giants 5-13-0, Cardinals 3-9-0.

W- Wilson (3-3)
L- Weaver (5-5)

HR- SF: Durham 3 (29), Bonds (27)
STL: Duncan (23)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

San Diego Padres: 88-74
Los Angeles Dodgers: 88-74
San Francisco Giants 77-85- 11 GB
Colorado Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the National League Central:

St. Louis Cardinals: 83-79
Houston Astros: 82-80- 1 GB
Cincinnati Reds: 80-82- 3 GB
Milwaukee Brewers: 75- 87- 8 GB
Pittsburgh Pirates: 67-95- 16 GB
Chicago Cubs: 66-96- 17 GB

Next: It's back to 1999, where the Giants are hosting the Rockies on Wednesday, June 30. Brian Bohanon will start for the Rockies, while Russ Ortiz goes to the hill for the Giants.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Wednesday, June 30, and the Giants are hosting the Rockies at 3Com Park in the third game of a four-game series. Brian Bohanon is on the mound for the Rox, while Russ Ortiz has the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat sixth, as his replacement Stan Javier did in real life. The Giants won the actual game 4-1. This game will be nationally televised by ESPN,

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he grounded to second.

In the fourth with the Giants leading 1-0, Ellis Burks led off with a single to left.

Bonds hit a 1-1 curveball from Bohanon down the left field line and into the Rockies bullpen for his forty-sixth home run of the year and career home run Number 803. The Giants led 3-0.

Third baseman Charlie Hayes was called out on strikes for out number one, but catcher Brent Mayne walked. Ortiz singled to left to put two men on, and center fielder F.P. Santangelo scalded a line drive into the right center power alley for a double which scored Mayne with the fourth Frisco run while Ortiz stopped at third. That was all for Bohanon; Chuck McElroy relieved and retired shortstop Rich Aurilia on a bouncer to short for the second out, But first baseman J.T. Snow capped off the inning with a base hit to right center. Ortiz and Santangelo scored, and it was 6-0 Giants.

In the fifth, Bonds led off with a fly ball to deep right center that chased Rockies center fielder Darryl Hamilton back to the wall before he could make the catch, Hayes and Mayne drew back-to-back walks. but Ortiz flew to Hamilton in shallow center for out number two. but Santangelo's bloop single to center scored Hayes to make it 7-0 while Mayne moved to third, Aurilia followed with a base hit to left center that brought Mayne home to make it 8-0,

In the sixth with the Giants leading 8-2, walks to Kent, Burks, and Bonds loaded the bases. Hayes' sacrifice fly to the warning track in left center scored Kent to give the Boys From the Bay a 9-2 lead. Mayne rapped a double off the wall in right center that brought Burks home with run number ten; Bonds stumbled going around third and had to hold there. Ortiz followed with a sinking line drive to left that Bichette figured to catch, but he mistimed his dive and could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled to the wall. Bonds trotted home with the Giants' eleventh run while Mayne went to third. Ortiz stopped at second, and Bichette was charged with a two-base error. Mayne came home when Santangelo fouled out to Bichette. whose throw home went up the first base line,

In the seventh, Wilson Delgado, who was in for Kent at second, drew a one-out walk. Burks was hit in the shin by a fastball from Terry Shumpert, who was now pitching in this blowout, and was taken out of the game as a precaution; Javier ran for him at first, A four-pitch walk to Bonds loaded the bases, and Hayes followed with a single to left that scored Delgado and Javier to make it 14-2,

It was 14-3 in the eighth when Santangelo led off with a double to left, He held on Aurilia's grounder to first, but scored on Snow's single up the middle. Delgado flew to shallow left center for out number two, but Javier rapped a double into the left field corner to score Snow with the Giants' sixteenth run,

Bonds finished the scoring by hitting Shumpert's 0-2 pitch into the fourth row in right center field, a distance of 393 feet, for a two-run homer, his second home run of the game, forty-seventh of the year, and Number 804 for his career. He's now sixty-four homers behind Sadaharu Oh. Our final: Giants 18, Rockies 3.

(Note: Right center field is 362 feet from home plate at 3Com Park,)

Bonds finished two for four plus two walks with two home runs, three runs scored, and four RBIs. He's now batting .265 (126-474) with forty-seven home runs and 122 runs batted in, He's now tied with the Braves' Chipper Jones for third in the National League home run race, and also tied with the Rangers' Rafael Palmeiro in the major league race, On the RBI front, he's now eighth in the National League, two behind the Mets' Mike Piazza. He's now walked ninety-six times, and he's hit a home run every 9.9 at-bats, which ties him for the second-best ratio in the majors with the Cubs' Sammy Sosa.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, Santangelo lined a leadoff single to left center. He moved to third on Aurilia's base hit to left center and scored when Snow bounced into a fielder's choice.

In the top of the sixth with two out and the Giants leading 8-0, Walker swatted a ball past a diving Ortiz and up the middle for a base hit. Bichette followed with his thirty-third homer of the year, a two-run shot over the center field wall that put the visitors on the board.

The Rox scored their other run of the game in the top of the eighth. Walker drew a base on balls with one out, moved to second on Bichette's bouncer to third, and scored on third baseman Vinny Castilla's single to right center.

Final totals: Giants 18-17-0, Rockies 3-7-1.

Pitchers' records remain the same.

DS- Nen (35)

HR- COL: Bichette (33)
SF: Bonds 2 (47)

LHR- COL: Castilla (31)
SF: Ortiz (1)

Next: The Giants visit San Diego on Wednesday, July 7 to finish a three-game series with the Padres at Qualcomm Stadium, Chris Brock will start for the Giants, while Sterling Hitchcock takes the hill for the Padres.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Wednesday, July 7, and the Giants are taking on the San Diego Padres in the final game of a three-game series at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Chris Brock will start for the Giants, while Sterling Hitchcock pitches for the Padres. Bonds is in left field and batting third, as his replacement Stan Javier did in real life, The Padres won the actual game, 5-2. ESPN is televising this game in selected markets.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the top of the first, center fielder F.P. Santangelo led off with a double off the wall in left center. Third baseman Ramon Martjnaz singled to left, which scored Santangelo to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Bonds was next, and he hit Hitchcock's 1-1 slider over the right center field wall for a two-run homer that increased the Frisco lead to 3-0, It was Barry's forty-eighth home run of the season and career homer Number 805. He's now sixty-three home runs behind Sadaharu Oh. Padres center fielder Ruben Rivera reached over the wall and missed catching the home run ball by less than an inch,

In the top of the second with the Giants leading 3-2, catcher Doug Mirabelli led off with a single to left center. He was forced by Brock for out number one, but Santangelo walked to put two men on. Martinez ripped a double off the wall in left to score both Brock and Santangelo and make it 5-2 Giants. Bonds' fly to the warning track in right was caught by the Padres' Reggie Sanders, with Martinez moving to third.

Second baseman Jeff Kent followed with a fly ball to left center that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double that brought Martinez home to put the Giants up 6-2. A walk to Ellis Burks put two men on, and J.T, Snow beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single to load the bases. Hitchcock then walked Rich Aurilia on five pitches to force Kent home and make it 7-2.

In the fourth, Bonds grounded to third.

The Giants led 7-3 in the top of the sixth when Santangelo led off with a single to right, Martinez's popup was caught by Padres shortstop Damian Jackson for out number one, but Bonds doubled off the wall in left to score Santangelo with the eighth Giants run.

In the eighth, Bonds walked.

Bonds finished two for four plus a walk with a home run and three RBIs. He's now batting .268 (128-478) with forty-eight home runs and 125 runs batted in, He's now walked ninety-seven times. He's now tied with Ken Griffey Jr, of the Mariners for third place in the major league home run race, and he's in third place in the National League race all by himself. The Cubs' Sammy Sosa is in second place with sixty-three. He's tied for sixth in the National League RBI race with the Astros' Jeff Bagwell, He's currently three RBIs away from cracking the major league top ten I128).

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Padres countered the three Giants runs in the top of the first with two in the bottom of the inning. Second baseman Quilvio Veras led off with a bloop single to left. Jackson's lined single to right put runners at the corners, and after right fielder Reggie Sanders struck out swinging for the first out, left fielder John Vander Wal singled to right to score Veras with the Padres' first run, First baseman Wally Joyner forced Vander Wal, which allowed Jackson to score and cut the Giants' lead to 3-2.

It was 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth when the Friars scored again. Vander Wal led off with a double down the right field line. Joyner's fly to the warning track in right was caught by Burks for the first out, with Vander Wal moving to third. Third baseman Carlos Baerga's fly to right for the second out was much shallower, and Vander Wal had to hold at third. Center fielder Ruben Rivera brought him home with a base hit to left center, and the Giants' lead was cut to 7-3.

The Giants added one last run in the top of the ninth; they were already leading 8-3 with one out when Aurilia hit a 1-2 curveball from Padres reliever Donne Wall down the right field line and over the fence for a solo home run, his twenty-first of the year. Our final: Giants 9, Padres 3.

Final totals: Giants 9-11-0, Padres 3-8-1.

W- Brock (7-8)
L- Hitchcock (11-15)

HR- SF: Bonds (48), Aurilia (21)

DS- Hoffman (39)

Bonds was named Player of the Game.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 99-63
Giants: 91-71- 8 GB
Dodgers: 77-85- 22 GB
Padres: 73-89- 26 GB
Rockies: 71-91- 28 GB

The Giants are now five games behind the Mets and Reds (96-66) in the National League wild card race,

In real time, the Giants were 52-33 and had a seven-game lead over the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

The Giants returned home to open a series against the Cardinals on Friday, July 9. Bonds had a well-earned night off as the Giants prevailed 5-4 in eleven innings when Snow took Cardinals reliever Manny Aybar deep for a walkoff homer. Bonds returned to the lineup for Game 2 of the series on Saturday, July 10. Jose Jimenez will pitch for the Cardinals, while Russ Ortiz takes the mound for the Giants.

Next: We look at Game 2 between the Cardinals and the Giants,

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Saturday, July 10, and the Giants are hosting the Cardinals in the second game of a three-game series at 3Com Park. Jose Jimenez goes to the mound for the Cardinals, while Russ Ortiz starts for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and batting second, as his replacement F.P. Santangelo did in real life. The Giants won the actual game 4-2.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, he bounced into a fielder's choice,

In the third, he walked.

In the fifth, he walked again.

In the seventh, he struck out swinging.

Bonds finished hitless in two official at-bats plus two walks. He's now batting .267 (128-480) with forty-eight home runs and 125 runs batted in, He's walked ninety-nine times.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Cards opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third, With one out, second baseman Joe McEwing walked, Center fielder J.D. Drew lined a base hit to left center that put runners at the corners, and first baseman Mark McGwire followed with a line drive three-run homer over the center field wall, The visitors had taken a 3-0 lead.

The Redbirds added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a pair of solo homers to right center field. With one out, Drew swatted Ortiz's 1-1 pitch over the wall in right center to extend the St. Louis lead to 4-0, After McGwire's fly to deep right was chased down by Javier for out number two, third baseman Fernando Tatis scorched a line drive over the wall in right center to make it 5-0. Drew now has fourteen homers on the year.

The Cards added another run in the top of the eighth against Giants reliever Felix Rodriguez. With one out, catcher Alberto Castillo lined a single to left center. Ray Lankford batted for left fielder Darren Bragg and walked to put two men on, but reliever Rich Croushore went down swinging for out number two, McEwing was next, and his base hit to left center scored Castillo to make it 6-0 St. Louis,

The visitors wrapped things up with three runs in the top of the ninth, McGwire greeted Giants reliever Rich Rodriguez with a double down the right field line, Tatis walked to put two men on, and McGee followed with a base hit to right center that scored Big Mac with the seventh St, Louis run, Tatis moved to third on the McGee hit and scored on shortstop Edgar Renteria's base hit to center, which made it 8-0. McGee moved to third on the Renteria hit and came home on Castillo's base hit to left center, which completed the scoring, Our final: Cardinals 9, Giants 0,

Final totals: Cardinals 9-10-1, Giants 0-3-1.

W- Jimenez (6-12)
L- Ortiz (20-8)

HR- STL: McGwire (65), Tatis (34), Drew (14)

Note: McGwire and Tatis also hit home runs in the actual game.

DS- Johnstone (2)

McGwire was named Player of the Game because of his three-run homer, but the Cardinals' pitching staff deserves recognition as well; Jimenez combined with relievers Croushore and Lance Painter on a three-hit shutout.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 99-63
Giants: 90-72- 9 GB
Dodgers: 77-85- 22 GB
Padres: 73- 89- 26 GB
Rockies: 71-91- 28 GB

In the Central:

Astros: 97-65
Reds: 96-66- 1 GB
(tie) Pirates: 77-84- 19.5 GB
(tie) Cardinals: 77- 84- 19.5 GB
Brewers: 74-87- 22.5 GB
Cubs: 67-95- 30 GB

In real time, the Giants were 54-33 and led the Diamondbacks by nine games in the NL West,

Bonds' next day off came on Saturday, August 7 at Turner Field, where the Giants were taking on the Braves in the second game of a three-game series, He sat out in this universe as well, and the Braves rolled to a 15-4 victory. Outfielder Gerald Williams drove in five runs to pace the Atlanta offense, three of them on a sixth-inning home run off of reliever Rich Rodriguez. Charlie Hayes, who started at first base, homered for San Francisco.

The next day off for Number 25 in real life came at home on Tuesday, September 14, as the Giants hosted the Florida Marlins in the second game of a three-game series, Bonds sat out in this universe too, and watched his teammates blank the Fish 3-0, Shawn Estes went the distance on the mound, pitching a four-hit shutout, while Eilis Burks and Brent Mayne provided the RBIs for the Giants.

Bonds' next absence came on Saturday and Sunday, September 25-26. The Giants hosted their final two games of the year against the Diamondbacks and were beaten in both of them. On Saturday, the Snakes scored four times in the top of the ninth to break a 3-3 tie and prevailed 7-3, Second baseman Tony Womack's single drove home the winning run, and left fielder Luis Gonzalez topped things off by stealing home.

The Diamondbacks scored a second consecutive easy win on Sunday, prevailing 7-1. Left fielder Bernard Gilkey provided the key hit with a bases-clearing double in the fourth, and starting pitcher Omar Daal held the Giants to one run on four hits over six and two-thirds innings. Armando Rios started for Bonds in left field on Saturday and led the Frisco offense with three hits and a run batted in, while starting pitcher Kirk Rueter had the lone Frisco RBI on Sunday.

Bonds' next absence came on Friday, October 1, as the Giants opened their final series at Coors Field against the Rockies. The Giants won 9-4, as Russ Ortiz finished his stellar season with a complete game and second baseman Jay Canizaro was three for five with a run scored and four RBIs. He left the team for the winter (with permission) before the season finale. The Rox took that one 9-8, scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth to get the win, Pinch hitter Edgard Clemente's sacrifice fly brought Todd Helton home with the winning run,

Coming up: Bonds' final game of the 1999 season, which was on Saturday, October 2 at Coors Field against the Rockies. Kirk Rueter will start for the Giants, while Jamey Wright goes to the hill for the Rox.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Saturday, October 2, and the Giants are taking on the Rockies in the second game of a three-game series at Coors Field in Denver. Kirk Rueter starts for the Giants, while Jamey Wright goes to the hill for the Rockies. Bonds is in left field and batting sixth, as his replacement Armando Rios did in real life, The Giants won the actual game, 16-7.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he led off with a single to right, Brent Mayne's fly to the warning track in center was caught by the Rockies' Edgard Clemente for out number one, and Bonds was forced by shortstop Wilson Delgado for out number two, Rueter's base hit to left center moved Delgado to third, and Marvin Benard's lined single to left brought Delgado home to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, Bonds flew to deep right center.

In the sixth, he walked.

In the ninth, he grounded to short.

Bonds finished one for three plus a walk. His final batting average is .267 (129-483) with forty-eight home runs and 125 runs batted in. He walked exactly one hundred times. He finished third in the National League home run race behind the Cardinals' Mark McGwire and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa, and tied for third in the major league race with the Mariners' Ken Griffey Jr. He finished seventh in the National League RBI race, one ribbie ahead of the Mets' Mike Piazza. He finished the year with 805 home runs, sixty-three behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh,

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Rockies tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Angel Echevarria was hit on the forearm by a pitch with one out. After Clemente struck out swinging for out number two, catcher Henry Blanco lined a single to left center that put runners at the corners. Wright was next, and he helped his own cause with a clean single to left, Echevarria scored, and we were even at one.

The Rox took the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Clemente doubled off the wall in left. Blanco's lined smash toward third was caught by the Giants' Bill Mueller for the second out, but Larry Walker batted for Wright and drew a walk to put two men on, Shortstop Neifi Perez was next, and he lined the first pitch he saw into center field for a single. Clemente scored, and the Rockies led 2-1.

The home squad put the game away with a five-run eighth. Blanco drew a leadoff walk against Giants reliever Rich Rodriguez. Reliever Curtis Leskanic was scheduled next. but Kurt Abbott batted for him and ripped a double off the wall in left. Blanco chugged home from first, and it was 3-1 Colorado. Perez grounded to Mueller at third for out number one, but Shumpert walked on four pitches, which ended Rodriguez's evening.

Jerry Spradlin came out of the Frisco pen to face first baseman Todd Helton, who spanked the first pitch he saw into right field for a double. Abbott and Shumpert both scored, and the Rox led 5-1. Left fielder Dante Bichette finished the scoring by golfing Spradlin's three-ball pitch down the right field line and over the wall for a two-run homer, his thirty-fourth of the year, Final score: Rockies 7, Giants 1,

Final totals: Rockies 7-15-0, Giants 1-5-0,

W- Wright (5-3)
L- Rueter (12-13)

HR- COL: Bichette (34)

LHR- SF: Burks (31), Snow (24), Rios 2 (7)

Here are the final standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 99-63
Giants: 89-73- 10 GB
Dodgers: 77-85- 22 GB
Padres: 73-89- 26 GB
Rockies: 72-90- 27 GB

Next: To be determined,

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

One year that I can't let this timeline go by without doing is 2001. As we begin on April 11, Bonds has set the single-season MLB record with seventy-three home runs, He's played 153 games, which means that he has up to nine more chances to put the record so far out of sight that no other player would even be able to approach it.

We're at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, where the Giants are finishing a three-game series with the Padres. Shawn Estes is on the mound for the Giants, while Bobby Jones starts for the Padres. Bonds in in left field and batting third, as his replacement Armando Rios did in real life. The Giants won the actual game 2-1, This game is being televised by ESPN2 in selected markets.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, his fly to deep right center was caught by Padres center fielder Mike Darr,

In the third, he grounded to first.

In the sixth with the Padres leading 4-1, Shawon Dunston batted for Estes and singled to left. Center fielder Marvin Benard's liner was caught by Padres third baseman Phil Nevin for out number one, but shortstop Rich Aurilia smacked a double into the left center power alley, with Dunston stopping at third. Bonds' bouncer to second brought Dunston home to trim the San Diego lead to 4-2.

In the eighth, he walked,

Bonds finished hitless in three at-bats plus a walk with an RBI, He's now batting ,326 (156-479) with seventy-three home runs and 138 runs batted in, He's walked 178 times. He's currently fourth in the National League RBI race, four behind the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez for third, His on-base percentage has dipped to .514, which means that his OPS is 1.378. Both figures comfortably lead the majors. He's currently tenth in the National League batting race, one point behind Juan Pierre of the Rockies,

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants began the scoring in the top of the second when first baseman J.T. Snow hit Jones' 1-1 hanging slider over the wall in right for his ninth homer of the year to give the Boys From the Bay a 1-0 lead.

The Padres tied the game in the bottom of the third. Darr led off with a lined single to left center. Right fielder Tony Gwynn walked to put two men on, and Nevin's grounder to third moved the runners up. Left fielder Bubba Trammell was next, and his fly to center brought Darr home to tie the game at one.

The Friars took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Darr led off with a base hit to right, Gwynn's single to right center put runners at the corners, but Estes recovered to strike Nevin out swinging. Darr scored on Trannell's bouncer to short to give the Padres a 2-1 lead, but Estes could still have limited the damage and gotten out of the inning by retiring catcher Wiki Gonzalez. Instead, he walked Gonzalez on four pitches. First baseman Alex Arias made him pay with a bloop double to left center that scored both Gwynn and Gonzalez to extend the San Diego lead to 4-1,

The Giants took the lead back in the top of the seventh. With one out and the score 4-2 Padres, right fielder Eric Davis hit a two-hopper to short. Padres shortstop Donaldo Mendez made the stop, but his throw to first pulled Arias off the bag, allowing Davis to reach. Catcher Benito Santiago walked to put two men on, but was forced by third baseman Pedro Feliz, with Davis moving to third. The pitcher's spot was due up next, and Giants manager Dusty Baker sent Rios up to bat for reliever Aaron Fultz. Armando took a strike, then banked reliever Rodney Myers' second pitch off the left field foul pole for a three-run homer, his fifteenth of the year, to put the Giants in front 5-4.

The undaunted Padres tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, Mendez led off by beating out a bouncer to third for an infield single. Mark Kotsay batted for Myers but bounced into a force play. Kotsay was in turn forced by second baseman Damian Jackson for out number two, and Ryan Klesko was called on to bat for Darr, Klesko lined Giants reliever Tim Worrell's first pitch off the wall in left for a double that brought Klesko home to tie the game at five.

The Padres won the game in the bottom of the tenth. With one out against Giants closer Robbie Nen, Ray, Lankford batted for closer Trevor Hoffman and tripled off the top of the wall in left. just inches away from a walkoff homer. Jackson took a called third strike for the second out, but Klesko, who was now playing first base, walked to put two men on. Gwynn was up next with a chance to send the fans home happy, and he did just that by hitting Nen/s second pitch into right for a base hit, which allowed Lankford to come home with the winning run, Our final in eleven innings: Padres 6, Giants 5.

Final totals: Padres 6-11-1, Giants 5-6-0,

W- Hoffman (4-3)
L- Nen (4-6)

HR- SF: Rios (15), Snow (9)

DW- Fultz (2-1)
DS- Nen (44)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Arizona Diamondbacks: 92-70
San Francisco Giants: 89-73- 3 GB
Los Angeles Dodgers: 86-76- 6 GB
San Diego Padres: 80-82- 12 GB
Colorado Rockies: 73-89- 18 GB

The Giants are currently four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card race.

Next: The Giants entertain the Chicago Cubs at Pacific Bell Park (now Oracle Park) on Saturday, April 28 in the second game of a three-game series, Julian Tavarez starts for the Cubs, while Shawn Estes again goes to the hill for the Giants,

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Saturday, April 28, 2001, and we're at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco for the second game of a three-game series between the Giants and the Chicago Cubs. Julian Tavarez will pitch for the Cubs, while Shawn Estes takes the ball for the Giants, Bonds is in left field and will lead off, as his replacement Shawon Dunston did in real life. The Giants won the actual game 5-0,

Let's look at Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first with the Cubs already leading 3-0, his bloop fell in shallow right field for a base hit. Shortstop Ramon Martinez followed with a bloop of his own that rolled down the left field line for a double, with Bonds stopping at third. J.T. Snow's single to center brought Bonds home to put the Giants on the board. Second baseman Jeff Kent was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Armando Rios missed a grand slam by less than a foot; he had to settle for a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right, which allowed Martinez to score and cut the Cubs' lead to 3-2,

In the second, catcher Benito Santiago led off by hitting Tavarez's first pitch over the wall in straightaway center for a game-tying home run, his seventh of the year. Estes followed with a single to left, and a wild pitch moved him to second. Bonds was next, and he hit another bloop, This one fell in center field for another base hit, and Estes scored from second to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. Later in the inning, Bonds was thrown out while trying to steal second.

In the third, Kent led off with a lined single to left. Rios' single to right put two men on, but they had to stay put when third baseman Russ Davis's popup was caught by the Cubs' Ricky Gutierrez at short for out number one. Center fielder Marvin Benard walked to load the bases, and Santiago stroked a base hit to right center that brought Kent and Rios home to extend the Frisco lead to 6-3.

That was all for Tavarez; Courtney Duncan came out of the Chicago pen to face Estes and struck him out swinging on three pitches, but Bonds walked on five pitches to load the bases. Martinez stroked a base hit to right that brought Benard home to make it 7-3, and Snow lashed a single just beyond Duncan's reach and into center field to score Santiago and Bonds. At the end of three, the Giants led 9-3.

In the fifth, Bonds struck out swinging,

In the sixth, Kent led off with a single to right. Rios was next, and he hit reliever Todd Van Poppel's 1-2 pitch into the left field bleachers for a two-run homer, his sixteenth of the year, to make it 11-3 Frisco.

Van Poppel looked sharp when he caught Davis's line drive just as it whizzed by his ear for out number one, but Benard singled up the middle to keep things going, and Santiago's base hit to right center put runners at the corners. Van Poppel struck out his mound opponent Chad Zerbe swinging for out number two, then threw twelve balls in his next fourteen pitches, resulting in walks to Bonds (loaded the bases), Martinez (forced in Benard), and Snow (forced in Santiago). By the time the dust settled, the Giants had scored five runs in the inning and led 14-3.

In the eighth, Bonds hit a 1-2 hanging slider from Cubs reliever Felix Heredia into McCovey Cove (right field) on the fly. It was his seventy-fourth home run of the year and career homer Number 806, The Giants led 15-3, which turned out to be the final score. Bonds is now sixty-two home runs behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh.

Bonds finished three for four with two singles, a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. He's batting .329 (159-483) with seventy-four home runs and 140 runs batted in, He's now walked 180 times. He's two RBIs behind Luis Gonzalez for third place in the National League, and he's now tied for sixth in the National League batting race with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. (The current leader is Larry Walker of the Rockies with a .350 average.)

In related news, Sammy Sosa of the Cubs, who came into the game in eighth place at .328, is down to .326 after going one for four, He's now in tenth place, one point ahead of Gonzalez. (He went one for two in the original game.)

Bonds' on-base percentage is .516, and his slugging percentage is .863, which equals an OPS of 1.379.

Let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Cubs scored three times off of Estes in the top of the first, With two out, Sosa and third baseman Ron Coomer drew back-to-back walks. Left fielder Rondell White's single to left loaded the bases, and Gutierrez's solid single to left center scored Sosa and Coomer to put the Cubs in front 2-0, First baseman Julio Zaleta followed with a bouncer to short that Martinez bobbled several times; by the time he found the handle, he had no play at first, and White had scored to make it 3-0,

In the bottom of the fourth, the Giants were leading 9-3 when they added another run. Davis doubled off the wall in center with one out and scored on Benard's single to right center.

Final totals: Giants 15-20-1, Cubs 3-7-0.

Pitcher's records remain the same.

S- Zerbe (1)

HR- SF: Bonds (74). Rios (16), Santiago (7)

Bonds' next real-life absence came on Thursday, May 10, as his teammates finished a four-game series against the Montreal Expos at Pac Bell Park, He sat out in our universe as well, but his teammates laid a 13-0 whooping on the Canadian invaders. Snow, Kent, Rios, and starting pitcher Kirk Rueter each drove in a pair of runs, and Rueter combined with Zerbe on a six-hit shutout.

Next: The Giants host the Rockies at Pac Bell Park on Saturday, May 26. Rueter will take the ball for the Giants, while Shawn Chacon pitches for the Rockies.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Saturday, May 26, and the Giants are hosting the Colorado Rockies in Game 3 of a four-game series at Pac Bell Park. Shawn Chacon will pitch for the Rox, while Kirk Rueter takes the ball for the Giants. Bonds in in left field and batting sixth, as his replacement Shawon Dunston did in real life. The Rockies won the actual game, 10-4.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first with one out, Rich Aurilia walked, After J.T. Snow struck out swinging for out number two, Jeff Kent lined a single to left to put two men on, Armando Rios lined a single to left center that cashed in Aurilia to give the Giants a 1-0 lead, Kent moved to third on the hit and scored on Bonds' single to right center to make it 2-0.

In the fourth, Bonds walked.

In the sixth with the Rox leading 4-2, Rios drew a leadoff walk. Bonds' single to right put two men on, and Benito Santiago clubbed a triple over Larry Walker's head in right that scored both runners to tie the game at four. Chacon was excused by Rockies manager Buddy Bell in favor of reliever Kane Davis, but it did no good, as third baseman Pedro Feliz drilled a 2-1 fastball over the right center field fence for a two-run homer that gave the Giants a 6-4 lead. It was his eighth home run of the year. Reliever Felix Rodriguez's fly ball down the right field line was caught by Walker for the first out, but Marvin Benard hit the first pitch he saw over the center field wall for his sixteenth homer of the year and the second of the inning to extend the Frisco lead to 7-4.

In the seventh with one out, Rios walked. Bonds took a called third strike for out number two, but Santiago singled to left to put two men on. That brought up Feliz, who crushed the first pitch he saw from reliever Gabe White and drove it over the wall in straightaway center for a three-run homer that extended the Giants' lead to 10-4. It was his second home run of the game and his ninth of the year.

In the eighth with the Giants leading 10-5. Benard lined a leadoff single up the middle. Aurilia struck out swinging for the first out, but Snow's single up the middle moved Benard to third. Kent followed with a single to right center that brought Benard home to make it 11-5. Snow moved to third on Kent's hit, but the runners were stranded when Rios was called out on strikes and Bonds' fly to deep center was caught by the Rockies' Mark Little to end the inning.

Bonds finished two for four plus a walk with a run scored and an RBI. He's now batting .331 (161-487) with seventy-four home runs and 141 runs batted in, He's now within one RBI of Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks for third place in the National League RBI race, He's tied for fourth in the major league RBI race with Bret Boone of the Mariners. As of this paragraph, he's in a three-way tie for third in the National League batting race with Moises Alou and Lance Berkman of the Astros. We'll deal with the averages of Walker and Helton (who are first and second in the NL batting race) below.

Bonds has now walked 181 times. His on-base percentage is now .517, and his slugging percentage is .860. His OPS is 1.377. For the record, he has fifty-three singles, thirty-two doubles, and two triples.

We've seen how the Giants scored all of their runs. Let's see how the Rockies scored theirs:

In the top of the third with the Giants leading 2-0. Little stroked a leadoff single to left center. Shortstop Neifi Perez singled to right center to put two men in, and Walker made it three singles in a row with a base hit to right. Little scored, and the Rox were on the board. Third baseman Jeff Cirillo's fly to right center was caught by Benard for the first out, with the runners holding. Helton's single to right loaded the bases, but he was forced by left fielder Ron Gant. Perez scored on the play to tie the game at two,

In the top of the fifth, Perez led off with a base hit up the middle. Walker and Cirillo each walked to load the bases, and Helton hit a roller down to first, Snow scooped it up and threw to the plate in one motion for the force play on Perez, and there was one out. Walker moved to third, and he came home when Gant's fly to deep right center chased Benard back to the wall before he could make the catch. Second baseman Terry Shumpert was next, and he hit a fly ball to right center that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. Cirillo was awarded home plate, and the Rockies led 4-2.

In the top of the eighth with one out and the Giants leading 10-4, Little singled to left center. After Perez flew to right center for out number two, Walker doubled off the left field wall to bring Little home and cut the Frisco lead to 10-5.

Now let's update the batting averages for Walker and Helton. Walker was two for four in both the sim and the actual game, so he maintains his .350 average. As for Helton, he trades his 0 for 4 in real life for a two for five, which raises his average to .338 and leaves Bonds in a three-way tie for third at .331 with no more than five games to play. There's really no such thing as a major league batting race, but if there were, Bonds would be in a four-way tie for sixth with Alou, Berkman, and Boone.

Final totals: Giants 11-13-0, Rockies 5-11-1,

W- F. Rodriguez (10-1)
L- Chacon (5-11)

HR- SF: Benard (16), Feliz 2 (9)

DL- Rueter (14-11)

LHR- COL: Petrick (10)
SF: Santiago (6)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 92-70
Giants: 90-72- 2 GB
Dodgers: 86-76- 6 GB
Padres: 80-82- 12 GB
Rockies: 72-90- 20 GB

The Giants are three games behind the Cardinals in the National League wild card race.

Next: The Giants battle the Padres at Pac Bell Park on Wednesday, June 5. Rueter will once again pitch for the Giants, to be opposed by the Padres' Woody Williams.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Wednesday, June 6, 2001, and the Giants are hosting the Padres in Game 3 of a four-game series at Pac Bell Park. Woody Williams is pitching for the Padres, while Kirk Rueter goes to the mound for the Giants. Bonds in in left field and batting third, as his replacement Armando Rios did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 6-4. This game is being televised by ESPN2 in selected markets.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, he doubled into the left center power alley with two out. Jeff Kent, who was starting at first base, walked to put two men on, and Benito Santiago's fly ball fell in center field for a base hit that scored Bonds and gave the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the third, Bonds popped to short.

In the sixth with the Padres leading 11-1, center fielder Calvin Murray led off with a double to right. Russ Davis flew to right for the first out, which moved Davis to third. Bonds struck out swinging for out number two, but Kent brought Davis home with a triple into the right field corner. The Padres led 11-2 after six,

In the eighth, Bonds struck out swinging again.

Bonds finished one for four with a run scored. He's now batting .330 (162-491) with seventy-four home runs and 141 runs batted in. He's tied for fifth in the National League batting race with the Braves' Chipper Jones. He's scored 134 runs, which is second in the National League to the Cubs' Sammy Sosa with 147. He has thirty-three doubles. His on-base percentage has dipped to .515, and his slugging percentage is now .857, which means that his OPS is 1.372.

Now let's see how the Padres scored their runs:

In the top of the second, right fielder Mike Darr led off with a base hit to right. Second baseman Alex Arias' double to center moved Darr to third. Shortstop Chris Gomez's fly to right center wasn't deep enough to bring Darr home, but Williams' double to right cashed in both Darr and Arias to give the Friars a 2-1 lead.

The visitors blew the game open with five runs in the top of the third. First baseman Ryan Klesko led off with a base hit to right center, then stole second. He held there while Nevin popped to Rich Aurilia at short and catcher Ben Davis struck out swinging, but moved to third when Russ Davis couldn't handle Darr's grounder, allowing Mike to reach. Arias walked on five pitches to load the bases, and Gomez walked on five more to force Klesko home and put the Friars up 3-1, Williams was next, and he continued his stellar night at the plate with a bases-clearing double that made it 6-1 San Diego, After left fielder Rickey Henderson walked, center fielder Mike Colangelo stroked a base hit to right center that brought Williams home with the Friars' seventh run,

The Padres added four more runs in the sixth. Colangelo led off with a single to left. Walks to Klesko and Nevin loaded the bases, but Giants reliever Aaron Fultz recovered to strike Ben Davis out swinging. Darr's grounder to first was stopped by Kent, who threw to the plate for the force on Colangelo, But Fultz walked Arias to force in Klesko with the eighth San Diego run, and Gomez officially made it a laugher when he cleared the bases with a double into the right center power alley, the Padres' second bases-clearing triple of the game. The visitors led 11-1 after five and a half.

The Padres added four more runs in the top of the ninth. Williams led off with a comebacker; reliever Chad Zerbe fielded the ball, but his throw pulled new first baseman J.T. Snow off the bag for an error. Henderson struck out swinging for out number one, but Colangelo whacked Zerbe's 1-1 hanging curveball over the right center field wall for a two-run homer, his third of the year, to extend the San Diego lead to 13-2. After a walk to Klesko, it was Nevin's turn to take Zerbe deep to left center for another two-run homer, his forty-second of the year and the second of the inning. Our final: Padres 15, Giants 2.

Final totals: Padres 15-13-0, Giants 2-5-2.

W- Willams (16-8)
L- Rueter (13-12)

HR- SD: Nevin (42), Colangelo (3)

DS- Nen (43)

LHR- SF: Aurilia (36)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 92-70
Giants: 89-73- 3 GB
Dodgers: 86-76- 6 GB
Padres: 81-81- 11 GB
Rockies: 72-90- 20 GB

The Giants are currently four games behind the Cardinals for the National League wild card berth.

Next: Another date with the Padres, this one on Thursday, June 21 at Qualcomm Stadium. Shawn Estes will start for the Giants, while Bobby Jones takes the hill for the Padres.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Thursday, June 21, 2001, and the Giants are set to face the Padres in the third and final game of a three-game series at Qualcomm Stadium. Shawn Estes is pitching for the Giants, while Bobby Jones takes the ball for the Padres. Bonds is in left field and batting sixth, as his replacement Marvin Benard did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 8-3.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he struck out swinging,

In the fifth, he was called out on strikes,

In the seventh, he singled to center.

In the eighth with one out and the Padres leading 11-1, center fielder Calvin Murray walked. Rich Aurilia's base hit to left center put runners at the corners, and Murray scored on Benito Santiago's single to left, Kent forced Santiago for the second out, with Aurilia moving to third. Right fielder Eric Davis walked to load the bases, and reliever Rudy Seanez came out of the San Diego bullpen to face Bonds, whose popup was caught by Padres second baseman Cesar Crespo to end the inning, Our final: Padres 11, Giants 2,

Bonds finished one for four, He's now batting .329 (163-495) with seventy-four home runs and 141 runs batted in. He's now tied for sixth in the National League batting race with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. His on-base percentage now stands at .513. He now has fifty-four singles, and his slugging percentage stands at .853. His OPS is 1.366.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Padres scored five runs in the bottom of the second. Catcher Ben Davis led off with a lined single to right center, and Crespo walked to put two men on, Gomez popped up to Giants second baseman Ramon Martinez for the first out while the runners held, but Jones' bloop fell in shallow center for a single to load the bases, Left fielder Rickey Henderson forced Jones for the second out, but Davis scored to give the Padres a 1-0 lead and Crespo moved to third.

Center fielder Mike Darr walked on a three-two pitch to reload the bases, and first baseman Ryan Klesko's bloop base hit to right scored Crespo and Henderson to make it 3-0, A walk to third baseman Phil Nevin loaded the bases for the third time in the inning, and right fielder Bubba Trammell topped off the inning with a base hit to right center. Darr and Klesko scored, and the Padres led 5-0 after two,

The Friars added a run in the bottom of the fourth, Klesko led off with a walk. After Nevin flew to center for the first out, Klesko stole second. Trammell followed with a double over Murray's head in center to score Klesko and make it 6-0 San Diego,

The Giants scored their first run in the top of the sixth. Third baseman Pedro Feliz led off with a base hit to left center, After reliever Tim Worrell struck out swinging for out number one, Murray popped to Nevin at third for out number two, It was up to Aurilia, and he smacked a double to right that brought home Feliz and cut the Padres' lead to 6-1.

I lost the sim at that point, but the Padres scored five more runs in the bottom of the sixth to blow the game open. The final, as I stated above, was 11-2. I don't have final totals, obviously. Trammell was named Player of the Game.

W- Jones (9-18)
L- Estes (8-9)

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 92-70
Giants: 88-74- 4 GB
Dodgers: 86-76- 6 GB
Padres: 82-80- 10 GB
Rockies: 72-90- 20 GB

Bonds' next real-life absence came on Saturday, June 30, as the Giants hosted the Cardinals at Pac Bell Park. He sat out in this universe as well, and his teammates were down 2-1 after seven and a half before scoring four times for a scintillating.5-2 comeback win. Feliz's two-run pinch-hit single was the key blow, and Aurilia had two hits and drove in another run. Although he finished with a no-decision, starting pitcher Russ Ortiz did his job and then some, holding the Redbirds to one run on five hits over seven innings.

His next actual absence came on Thursday, August 2, when the Giants faced the Pirates at Pac Bell Park, He sat out in our universe as well, but his teammates didn't need him, as they shut out the Buccos 3-0. Benard's solo homer off of Pittsburgh starting pitcher Tony McKnight broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, and Kent drove in the other two runs with a double in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. On the pitching side, Kirk Rueter, Worrell, and Robbie Nen combined on a three-hit shutout,

Next: The Giants begin a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, August 10, Estes will once again start for the Giants, to be opposed by the Cubs' Jon Lieber.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Friday, August 10, and the Giants are opening a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Shawn Estes is starting for the Giants, while Jon Lieber pitches for the Cubs. Bonds is in left field and batting third, as his replacement John Vander Wal did in real life. The Cubs won the actual game, 9-3.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, he flew to deep right center.

In the fourth, he walked.

In the sixth, his foul pop was caught by Cubs third baseman Ron Coomer.

In the seventh, J,T. Snow lined a leadoff single up the middle. Right fielder Eric Davis hit Lieber's 1-1 fastball over the right field wall for a two-run homer, his fifth of the year, to put the visitors on the board. Third baseman Ramon Martinez followed with a double into the right center power alley, and that was all for Lieber. Kyle Farnsworth came in from the Chicago bullpen to face Benito Santiago, who lined his two-strike pitch into the left center bleachers to tie the game at four. It was his seventh home run of the season.

Andres Galarraga came off the bench to bat for reliever Tim Worrell and singled to left. Center fielder Marvin Benard's base hit to left center put runners at the corners, and Rich Aurilia walked to load the bases. Bonds walked on five pitches to force home pinch runner Jason Schmidt (running for Galarraga) and give the Giants a 5-4 lead. Kent was next, and he hit a fly to deep left center that just eluded center fielder Michael Tucker's outstretched glove for a grand slam, his twenty-third home run of the year. The Giants had now scored nine times in the inning to take a 9-4 lead.

In the ninth, Bonds hit the first pitch he saw into the right center field bleachers for a leadoff home run, his seventy-fifth of the season and career home run Number 807. He is now sixty-one home runs behind Sadaharu Oh. The Giants led 10-4.

The inning continued with Kent's base hit up the middle. Snow walked to put two men on, and Davis stroked a base hit to right center that brought Kent home with the eleventh Frisco run and moved Snow to third. Martinez followed with a fly to deep left center that was caught by Tucker. Snow scored easily, and the visitors led 12-4.

Bonds finished one for three with a home run, two runs scored, two walks. and two RBIs. His final batting average was .329 (164-498) with seventy-five home runs and 143 runs batted in. He finishes tied for sixth in the National League batting race with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. He finished third in the National League RBI race behind the Rockies' Todd Helton and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa.. He walked 183 times, and he finished second in runs scored with 136.

His final on-base percentage was .515. and his final slugging percentage was .855, which means that his final OPS was 1.370.

Now let's see how the Cubs scored their runs:

In the bottom of the first with one out, left fielder Delino DeShields walked. Sosa's base hit up the middle put runners at the corners, but first baseman Fred McGriff's fly to left center was too shallow to move either runner. Coomer followed with a bouncer to third that was booted by Martinez, which allowed DeShields to score and the Cubs to take a 1-0 lead.

The home squad added to its lead with three runs in the fifth. Right fielder Eric Young led off with a single to left. He was bunted over to second by DeShields, and Sosa walked to put two men on, After McGriff flew to right for out number one, Coomer hit a bullet down the left field line that disappeared over the wall for a three-run homer, his ninth of the year. The Cubs now led 4-0,

The Cubs scored the rest of their runs in the bottom of the ninth while trying to come back from a 12-4 deficit. With two out, Sosa belted a triple into the left field corner. McGriff followed with a triple of his own, this one to center. Sosa scored easily, and the Cubs had run number five. Coomer's base hit to right chased The Crime Dog home, and it was 12-6. Shortstop Ricky Gutierrez was next, and he hit reliever Felix Rodriguez's 1-2 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer, his eleventh of the year, to bring the Baby Bears within 12-8. Robbie Nen began to soft toss in the Giants' pen just in case he was needed, but Rodriguez finally the last out when Rondell White (batting for Tucker) bounced to short. Final score: Giants 12, Cubs 8.

Sosa was two for four with two runs scored. He's currently batting .325 (189-581), which means that he's now tied with the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez for tenth in the National League batting race. (He scored two runs in both the actual and simulated games, which cancel each other out and leave him with his league-leading total of 148.)

Final totals: Giants 12-16-1. Cubs 8-11-1.

W- Worrell (3-5)
L- Farnsworth (4-7)

HR-SF: Bonds (75). Kent (23), Santiago (7), Davis (5)
CHC: Gutierrez (11), Coomer (9)

DW- Lieber (19-6)
DL- Estes (8-8)

LHR- CHC: McGriff (30), Tucker(11)

Here are the final standings in the National League West:

Diamondbacks: 92-70
Giants: 89-73- 3 GB
Dodgers: 86-76- 6 GB
Padres: 82-80- 10 GB
Rockies: 72-90- 20 GB

In the Central:

(tie) Houston Astros: 93-69
(tie) St; Louis Cardinals: 93-69
Chicago Cubs: 87-75- 6 GB
Milwaukee Brewers: 68-94- 25 GB
Cincinnati Reds: 66-96- 27 GB
Pittsburgh Pirates: 62-100- 31 GB

And that wraps up 2001,

Next: To be determined,

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

I've decided to clean up the three years I've already started by doing Bonds' unplayed games. The first one I'm going to do is 2006. As we pick things up, he's batting .271 (101-372) with twenty-seven home runs and seventy-eight runs batted in.

Bonds' first absence of the year came in the season's fourth game on Friday, April 7, when the Atlanta Braves came to AT&T Park to begin a three-game series. Bonds sat out in this universe too, and the Braves prevailed 14-6. Left fielder Ryan Langerhans was the offensive star for Atlanta; he was three for five with a home run and five RBIs. Shortstop Edgar Renteria also homered for the Braves.

His next absence came in the second game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros on Thursday, April 13 at AT&T Park. We'll look at that game in our next post.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Thursday, April 13, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Houston Astros in the second game of a doubleheader at AT&T Park. Roy Oswalt is starting for the Astros, while Matt Cain heads to the hill for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and batting fourth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life. The Astros won the actual game, 8-0,

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first with one out, center fielder Steve Finley hit Oswalt's first pitch down the right field line and over the wall for his seventh home run of the year to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Bonds flew to center.

In the third with the Astros leading 3-1, right fielder Randy Winn led off with a single to left center. Finley beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single to put two men on, After second baseman Ray Durham struck out swinging, Bonds lined Oswalt's 1-2 fastball over the wall in straightaway center for his twenty-eighth home run of the year and career homer Number 808 to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. He's now sixty home runs behind Sadaharu Oh.

In the fifth, Finley led off with a single to right. Durham's bloop dropped on the right field line and rolled into the corner for a double, which scored Finley and put the Giants up 5-3. Bonds walked to put two men on, and third baseman Pedro Feliz's fly to left center moved Durham to third. Catcher Todd Greene was next, and he hir a ball off the top of the wall in right, just an inch below the home run line. Durham and Bonds scored easily, and the home squad led 7-3. Greene eventually came home on first baseman Lance Niekro's fly to the warning track in left, which was caught by Astros left fielder Preston Wilson, After five, the Giants led 8-3, which was also our final.

(Note: For those who may not know, Lance Niekro is the son of former major league pitcher Joe Niekro and the nephew of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro,)

In the sixth, Bonds flew to shallow center.

Barry finished one for three plus a walk with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs. He's now batting .272 (102-375) with twenty-eight home runs and eighty-one runs batted in. He's walked 117 times, which leads the National League. He's third in the major leagues, two behind David Ortiz of the Red Sox. He's seven home runs away from breaking into the National League's top ten at thirty-five.

We've seen how the Giants scored their runs. Let's see how the Astros scored theirs:

In the top of the second with the Astros leading 1-0, third baseman Morgan Ensberg drew a leadoff walk. Wjlson's lined single to right put two men on, and right fielder Jason Lane's fly to right center chased Finley back to the wall before he could make the catch, which allowed Ensberg to move to third. Wjlson promptly stole second, and catcher Brad Ausmus brought both runners home with a fly ball to left that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. The Astros now led 2-1.

The Stros added a run in the top of the third, With one out, center fielder Willy Taveras banged a triple off the wall in right. First baseman Lance Berkman's foul pop was caught by his counterpart Niekro for out number two, but Ensberg walked on five pitches to keep the inning alive, and Wilson followed by lining a base hit up the middle that brought Taveras home and extended the Houston lead to 3-1,

Final totals: Giants 8-13-0, Astros 3-7-0.

W- Cain (14-11)
L- Oswalt (14-9)

HR- SF: Bonds (28), Finley (7)

LHR- HOU: Berkman 2 (43)

Finley was named Player of the Game. He was a perfect five for five with a home run and scored three times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 78-84- 10 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 81-81- 2 .5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3 .5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8 .5 GB
Pirates: 67-95- 16 .5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB

In real time, the Giants were 6-2 and leading the NL West by a half game over the Rockies.

Next: The Giants head to Chase Field to battle the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, April 19. Cain will once again pitch for the Giants, while Brandon Webb takes the ball for the Snakes.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Wednesday, April 19, 2006, and the Giants are at Chase Field in Phoenix to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of a three-game series. Matt Cain is pitching for the Giants, while Brandon Webb takes the ball for the D-Backs. Bonds is in left field and will lead off, as his replacement Randy Winn did in real life. The D-Backs won the actual game, 10-3.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, he flew to shallow right center.

In the third with one out, Cain stroked a double to left. After Bonds flew to Jeff DaVanon in shallow right for the second out, shortstop Omar Vizquel hit a bloop off the end of his bat that eluded left fielder Luis Gonzalez and rolled down the line, Gonzalez was able to cut it off before it got into the corner, but Cain still scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth with the score tied at one, Bonds drew a two-out walk, Vizquel beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single, and Steve Finley's lined single to left loaded the bases. First baseman Mark Sweeney was next, and he hit a hot shot to his counterpart Tony Clark, who couldn't handle it. Sweeney reached on the error, and Bonds came home to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth, Bonds grounded to Clark at first,

In the ninth, he walked for the third time,

Bonds finished 0 for 3 with three walks and a run scored. He's now batting .270 (102-378) with twenty-eight home runs and eighty-one runs batted in, He's walked 120 times, which is good for second place in the majors, four behind Bobby Abreu, who split his time between the Phillies and Yankees.

We've seen how the Giants scored their runs. Let's see how the D-Backs scored theirs:

In the bottom of the fourth with one out and the Giants leading 1-0, Clark smacked Cain's first pitch down the left field line and over the fence for a home run, his seventh of the year. The game was tied at one.

In the bottom of the fifth with two out and the Giants leading 2-1, third baseman Chad Tracy lined a single to left and scored on Gonzalez's double into the right center power alley to tie the game at two,

In the bottom of the eleventh with one out, Shawn Green, who was now in right field, walked on five pitches against reliever Kevin Correia, After Tracy struck out swinging for our number two, Gonzalez whacked a double off the wall in right center. Green beat the throw to the plate easily, and the Snakes had a 3-2 victory in eleven innings.

Final totals: Diamondbacks 3-11-1, Giants 2-9-0,

W- Lyon I3-4)
L- Correia (2-1)

HR- ARZ: Clark (7)

DW- Webb (15-8)
DL- Cain (14-10)

LHR- SF: Alou (21), Sweeney (4)
ARZ: DaVanon (4)

Gonzalez was named Player of the Game because of his game-winning hit.

Bonds' next real-life day off was Saturday, April 29, when the Giants were receiving a return visit from the D-Backs. He sat out in our universe too, but the Giants won anyway 3-2 thanks to Moises Alou's walkoff homer off of Arizona reliever Luis Vizcaino,

His next day off was five days later (Thursday, May 4) when the Giants were at Miller Park in Milwaukee to face the Brewers. They lost this one 7-4, with keft fielder Carlos Lee doing the most damage for the Brew Crew. He drove in four runs, two of them with a fifth-inning homer. Right fielder Geoff Jenkjns also homered, while catcher Mike Matheny went deep in a losing cause for Frisco.

Next: The Giants host the Astros on Monday, May 8. Roy Oswalt will pitch for the Astros, while Noah Lowry gets the ball for the Giants.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Monday, May 8, and the Giants are hosting the Astros at AT&T Park. Roy Oswalt is pitching for the Astros, while Noah Lowry goes to the hill for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and batting sixth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 7-5.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he grounded to first.

In the fourth, he popped to short.

In the sixth, he walked,

In the eighth with the Astros leading 12-1, he singled to right center with one out, moved to third on Lance Niekro's base hit to left, and scored on second baseman Kevin Frandsen's base hit to left center. Our final: Astros 12, Giants 2,

Bonds finished one for three plus a walk with a run scored. He's batting .270 (103-381) with twenty-eight home runs and eighty-one runs batted in. He's walked 121 times, which is three behind Bobby Abreu for the major league lead.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Astros jumped on top with three runs in the top of the second. Third baseman Morgan Ensberg drew a leadoff walk, Left fielder Preston Wilson was next, and he hit Lowry's 0-1 curveball just out of Steve Finley's reach and over the wall in center field for a two-run homer, his eighteenth of the year, to put the Stros in front 2-0, Right fielder Jason Lane followed with a double into the right center power alley, and he scored on catcher Brad Ausmus' single to left center. The visitors led 3-0 after an inning and a half.

The Astros added a run in the top of the fourth. Lane led off by belting a triple into the left field corner, and he scored on Ausmus' bouncer to second to extend the Houston lead to 4-0,

The visitors added another run in the top of the fifth. After two out, Lowry walked Berkman and Ensberg, Wilson beat out a bouncer to second for an infield single to load the bases, and Lane worked the fourth walk of the inning to force Berkman home with Houston's fifth run. (Second baseman Craig Biggio had walked to start the inning, but was erased when shortstop Eric Bruntlett grounded into a double play.)

The Giants got a run back in the bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Randy Winn doubled off the wall in right center with one out, moved to third on shortstop Omar Vizquel's grounder to second, and scored on Finley's lined single to right center.

The Stros broke the game open for good with four runs in the top of the sixth against Giants reliever Kevin Correia. With one out, Oswalt stroked a single to left. Biggio followed with a two-run homer into the third row of seats in left center, his twenty-second of the year, to make it 7-1 Houston. Bruntlett followed with a double off the wall in left, and Berkman walked to put two men on. Ensberg was next, and his bloop fell in shallow left center fell for a double, Bruntlett and Berkman both scored, and the Astros' lead was 9-1.

The defending National League champs added a run in the seventh, Ausmus led off with a double off the wall in right center, moved to third on shortstop Adam Everett's fly to the warning track in center, and scored on Oswalt's single to left. As we stretched by the Bay, the Astros had a 10-1 lead.

The Astros scored their final two runs in the eighth. Berkman led off with a double to left, After Ensberg struck out swinging for out number one, Wilson's bloop single to right scored Berkman to make it 11-1. Lane walked to put two men on, and Ausmus' lined single to left scored Wilson with the Stros' twelfth and final run,

Final totals: Astros 12-14-0, Giants 2-12-0,

W- Oswalt (15-8)
L- Lowry (6-11)

HR- HOU: Biggio (22), Wilson (18)

DS- Benitez (16)

LHR- HOU: Lamb (11)
SF: Feliz (21)

Wilson was named Player of the Game, He finished three for six with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs.

Here are the updated standings for the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 77-85- 11 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3 .5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8.5 GB
Pirates: 67-95- 16 .5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB

Bonds' next absence also came against the Astros on Wednesday, May 17. This time the game was played at Houston's Minute Maid Park, and the Giants prevailed 10-1. Three Frisco hitters drove in all of their runs: second baseman Ray Durham had four RBIs, while Sweeney and third baseman Pedro Feliz had three each, Durhan and Feliz each hit home runs. On the pitching side. starter Matt Morris held the Stros to a run on three hits in eight innings.

On Wednesday, May 24, Bonds sat out the matinee between the Cardinals and the Giants at AT&T Park in both applicable universes. The Cards prevailed 10-4, Center fielder So Taguchi led the way for the Redbirds with a home run and three RBIs, and Adam Wainwright got the win in relief, helping his own cause with a solo homer off of Lowry in the fifth,

Next: The Giants head to Miami's Dolphins Stadium to face the Florida Marlins on Tuesday, May 30, Lowry will once again start for the Giants, while Brian Moehler takes the hill for the Marlins.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

It's Tuesday, May 30, and the Giants are taking on the Florida Marlins at Miami's Dolphins Stadium in the second game of a three-game series. Noah Lowry is starting for the Giants, while Brian Moehler pitches for the Marlins. Bonds is in left field and batting fourth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life, The Marlins won the actual game, 5-3.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first, right fielder Randy Winn led off with a single to right. Omar Vizquel walked to put two men on, Steve Finley's fly to right moved Winn to third, and Randy came home on Bonds' sacrifice fly to left center to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the third, Bonds struck out swinging.

In the fifth, he grounded into a 3-6-3 double play.

In the seventh, he walked.

In the ninth with the Giants leading 4-0, reliever Kevin Correia lined a leadoff single to right center. Winn moved him to third with a double off the wall in left center, and Vizquel walked to load the bases, Finley popped to the Marlins' Dan Uggla at second for the first out, but Bonds walked on five pitches to force in Correia and make it 5-0 Frisco. Durham was next. and he bounced into a force play, which eliminated Bonds but allowed Winn to score. Our final: Giants 6, Marlins 0,

The Giants scored their other three runs in the fourth. Ray Durham drew a leadoff walk, and Todd Greene's single to right put two men on, Pedro Feliz was next, and he hit Moehler's 2-2 fastball into the left field bullpen for a three-run homer to give the visitors a 4-0 lead. It was Feliz's twenty-second home run of the year.

Bonds finished hitless in two official at-bats plus two walks with two RBIs. He's now batting .269 (103-383) with twenty-eight home runs and eighty-three RBIs. He's walked 123 times, which is one behind Bobby Abreu for the major league lead.

Final totals: Giants 6-8-0, Marlins 0-2-0.

W- Lowry (7-10)
L- Moehler (6-12)

HR- SF: Feliz (22)

DS- FLA: Borowski (35)

LHR- SF: Niekro 2 (3)
FLA: Cabrera (25)

Feliz was named Player of the Game because of his three-run homer. Also; kudos to Lowry and Correia, who combined on a two-hit shutout while walking three and striking out seven. Right fielder Jeremy Hermida (single in the fifth) and shortstop Hanley Ramirez (single in the eighth) had the hits for the Marlins,

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 78-84- 10 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the East:

New York Mets: 97-65
Philadelphia Phillies: 85-77- 12 GB
Atlanta Braves: 79-83- 18 GB
Marlins: 77-85- 20 GB
Washington Nationals: 71-91- 26 GB

Next: Game 3 between the Giants and the Marlins on Sunday, May 31. Jason Schmidt will start for the Giants, while Josh Johnson goes to the hill for the Marlins.

Thoughts?