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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds beat Oakland with the long ball
and the small ball. Bonds hit his 30th homer and added a bunt single to help the San
Francisco Giants beat the Athletics 4-2 on Friday night.
|  | | A's first baseman Jason Giambi, left, is tagged out at home plate by Giants catcher Doug Mirabelli in the seventh inning Friday. |
Bonds' first bunt hit in two years helped give the Giants an
extra run in the eighth and make a winner out of Mark Gardner, who
pitched seven strong innings.
Felipe Crespo's pinch-hit single in the seventh scored Rich
Aurilia, who also turned in the defensive play of the game, with
the go-ahead run as the Giants won for the 10th time in 11 games.
Gardner (6-4) allowed two runs and four hits to win his fourth
consecutive start and his 50th as a Giant. Robb Nen recorded the
final three outs for his 19th save in 24 opportunities.
"I feel like I'm getting stronger because I'm pitching more,"
Gardner said. "There were some great defensive plays that helped
me out and kept runners off base."
Kevin Appier (8-6) lost his second straight on the road after
opening with six consecutive wins away from Oakland. He allowed
three runs and nine hits in seven innings as the A's dropped their
third straight and 10th in the last 13.
"I just made a couple mistakes and they did a good job of
picking it up," Appier said. "We're just not getting the runs."
Bonds hit his 475th career home run in the bottom of the first
to move into an 18th-place tie on the career list with Stan Musial
and Willie Stargell.
Bonds hit a 3-2 pitch from Appier into the deepest part of Pac
Bell Park, clearing the 421-foot sign in right center field. The
homer, which traveled an estimated 442 feet, gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. Bonds was greeted by his son, 9-year-old Nikolai, at home plate.
Bonds moved into a tie with St. Louis' Mark McGwire,
Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. and Los Angeles' Gary Sheffield for
the major league lead.
The Giants added a run in the ninth when Bill Mueller scored on
a throwing error by second baseman Randy Velarde. Mueller, who was
safe on an error to open the inning, was advanced to second when
Bonds bunted for a basehit against a defensive shift.
"Pow! Insurance run. Game over," said Bonds as he left the
clubhouse without saying anything further.
Sal Fasano, making just his 27th start of the season, gave the
A's a 2-1 lead in the third with his third home run. He hit a 1-2
offering from Gardner into the left-field seats, scoring Eric
Chavez, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Gardner retired the next 12 batters he faced.
Jason Giambi singled and Ben Grieve doubled to open the seventh.
One out later, Miguel Tejada hit a short fly just beyond shortstop
which Aurilia caught on the outfield grass. Giambi tried to score
on the play, but Aurilia threw him out at home.
"The guy made a great play and a perfect throw," A's manager
Art Howe said. "(Giambi) as just being aggressive there, and you
need that when you're not hitting."
The Giants tied the score when Armando Rios, who doubled to lead
off the fifth, scored on a double play.
Game notes
The Giants placed RHP Joe Nathan on the 15-day DL with
inflammation in his right shoulder. ... RHP Scott Linebrink was
recalled from Triple-A Fresno of the PCL to take Nathan's spot on
the roster. ... A's DH John Jaha is scheduled for surgery on
Wednesday to repair a damaged left shoulder. ... Oakland RHP Omar
Olivares, on the DL with a strained right shoulder, will not return
Monday as originally hoped. His return has been pushed back to Aug.
1. ... Bonds has 299 career homers in a Giants' uniform. ...
Crespo's pinch hit in the seventh was his 11th of the season, tying
him with Cincinnati's Hal Morris for most in the NL. His nine RBIs
ties him with four others for the league lead.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
San Francisco Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Mets 6
Boston 4
Cleveland 9
Pittsburgh 3
Houston 9
Detroit 4
NY Yankees 6
Florida 2
Toronto 3
Philadelphia 2
Tampa Bay 8
Montreal 5
Atlanta 4
Baltimore 1
St. Louis 9
Chi. White Sox 4
Milwaukee 4
Kansas City 0
Chicago Cubs 6
Minnesota 2
Arizona 6
Texas 1
Seattle 7
San Diego 5
Anaheim 5
Los Angeles 3
San Francisco 4
Oakland 2
Cincinnati 9
Colorado 2
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