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RECAP
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A day after his homer streak ended, Barry
Bonds picked up where he left off.
|  | | The race was on in McCovey Cove after Barry Bonds sent his 25th homer of the season out of Pac Bell Park and into the water. |
Bonds hit his major league-leading 25th home run of the season –
and 519th of his career – as the San Francisco Giants beat the
Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Thursday night.
"It's almost like you expect him to hit a home run. When he
doesn't, it's kind of disappointing," said Giants starter Shawn
Estes, who allowed just one run on two hits coming off the disabled
list.
Bonds' solo shot off John Thomson (0-3) in the third inning
sailed over the right-field wall into McCovey Cove, where it was
retrieved by a kayaker who dove out of his boat.
Bonds, two home runs behind Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for
11th place on the career list, reached 25 homers in a record 47
games, breaking the mark of 52 games set by Mark McGwire in 1998.
The San Francisco star was selected the NL player of the week
this past week when he hit nine homers in six games, including
three Saturday night in Atlanta. He failed to connect Wednesday
night against Arizona, ending his homer streak at six games.
"The more you see him, the less surprised you are," Giants
manager Dusty Baker said about Bonds' hot streak. "It's like
Michael Jordan. When you see Jordan enough, you're not surprised."
Estes (4-2) was activated from the 15-day disabled list before
the game. The left-hander was sidelined by tendinitis in his
shoulder that flared up just before a May 13 start against the New
York Mets.
"You get locked in sometimes out there on the mound – and I
felt locked in out there tonight," Estes said.
After throwing more than 100 pitches in eight innings, Estes was
relieved by Aaron Fultz for the ninth.
"He took a lot of energy away from us," Colorado manager Buddy
Bell said.
Thomson, who has lost all three of his starts this season,
allowed five runs on six hits in six innings.
A day after Baker flip-flopped Jeff Kent and Bonds in the
lineup, Bonds was back in his usual No. 3 spot, followed by Kent.
Baker said he wouldn't rule out another shuffle, depending on the
opponent.
Kent's home run in the first inning scored Bonds, who walked and
stole second. Benito Santiago's double-play grounder scored Russ
Davis in the second inning to put the Giants up 3-0.
Armando Rios added a solo home run into the seats atop the
right-field wall in the fourth inning.
The Rockies scored in the third when center fielder Marvin
Benard misjudged Ben Petrick's triple.
"We didn't do anything very well tonight," Bell said. "When
you don't do anything very well – you don't win."
Larry Walker was not in Colorado's lineup because of flu-like
symptoms, although he was available to pinch hit.
The Rockies have not won in San Francisco since April 22, 1999,
a string of 13 games.
Game notes
Bonds' home run was the ninth into McCovey Cove in the
history of Pacific Bell Park. ... Petrick doubled in the eighth
inning, extending Colorado's doubles streak to 21 games and tying
the franchise record set twice before. The Rockies are on pace to
double 370 times this year. ... Estes' replacement for one start,
Ryan Jensen, will stay in the Giants' bullpen. "He gives us a
right-handed long man, and that's the next best thing to
starting," Baker said.
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