Bonds Hits 41st, 42nd Home Run

[Baseball Guru]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds hit his 41st and 42nd home runs of the season Wednesday night to tie Mickey Mantle for ninth place on the career list with 536.

The San Francisco star hit a solo shot to right off Colorado's Mike Hampton in the fourth inning, and added a two-run blast to left off the Rockies pitcher in the fifth.

Soon after rounding the bases on the first homer, Bonds was led, clutching his back, into the clubhouse by Giants trainer Stan Conte. Bonds returned to left field in the top of the fifth.

After hitting his second homer, Bonds was replaced in left field by Armando Rios.

The Giants said Bonds had back spasms after the first home run, and was removed from the game as a precaution.

It was Bonds' 51st career multihomer game, and fifth this season. He has hit his 42 homers in 95 games, matching Mark McGwire's pace in 1998 when he hit a record 70 homers.

[RockieBill]

And Hampton's our ace, haha. I don't know how serious Bonds' back problem is, but if he is actually going to make a run at #70, he better hope he can play the next week or so. The Giants still have two more games against the Rockies weak pitching at Pac Bell, and then a three game series at Coors next week. While other teams may try to keep Bonds from reaching the HR record, the pathetic Rockies will have little say in the matter. Jeesh, they're playing disgusting baseball right now!

In a minor statistical sense and to pick at nits, Bonds actually is behind Big Mac's pace. McGwire hit his final four homers in 1998 after the Cards' 161st game - 67 and 68 in game No. 162 and 69 and 70 in game No. 163, which was a makeup from an earlier tie that counted statistically. So unless the Giants play 163 games this season, Bonds is behind McGwire, on a minor technicality.

RB

[Yankee 21]

I saw him winceing on Sportscenter this morning! I really hope it's nothing serious. I'd like to see him break the record. Nothing against Mac, I'd just like to see Bonds break it! He tied Mantle for carrer homeruns lastnight!