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Friday, Aug. 4 10:35pm ET
Bonds keeps San Francisco rolling | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Armando Rios was overshadowed again by Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. Bonds drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Jeff Kent had two RBIs to outshine Rios in the San Francisco Giants' 5-3 victory Friday night over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rios still played an important role in getting the Giants back in front by a game over the Arizona Diamondbacks atop the NL West. His two-run triple in the fourth tied the game 2-2 and set the stage for his teammates' heroics. "He's been great with runners on base," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "He's been producing big time. He's bewildered about hitting with no one on base. We'll take those RBIs though." Rios has driven in 42 runs in 176 at bats this season. "I've been feeling good at the plate," Rios said. "I feel like I have my stroke back and I'm not trying to do too much." With the score 3-3, Marvin Benard singled off Kris Benson (8-9), and Scott Sauerbeck gave up consecutive singles to Bill Mueller and Bonds. Kent followed with a sacrifice fly, increasing his NL-leading RBI total to 98. He has driven in eight runs in two games. "Those two guys have been real tough on us," Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said. "They're a real presence in that lineup. It seems they always come up when you don't want them, always in key situations." Bonds left the game after aggravating his right calf muscle, but said he shouldn't miss any action. Baker said Bonds would probably sit out a day. San Francisco won for the fourth time in five games. "We've had some clutch hitting," Baker said. "This was a great game for us to win." Doug Henry (3-3) won for the second time since the Giants acquired him last Sunday from Houston, allowing a seventh-inning homer to Alex Ramirez that tied it 3-3. Two pitches earlier, Jason Kendall was caught stealing. Robb Nen pitched a hitless ninth for his 27th save in 32 chances. Benson, 0-3 in five starts since beating Minnesota on July 8, gave up four runs, seven hits and five walks in six-plus innings. "I just got behind in the count," Benson said. "They're quality hitters and you can't throw the ball down the middle of the plate. I made a bad pitch to Rios and that cost me the ballgame." Pittsburgh's Kevin Young, who had three hits, had a rough day on the bases. He was caught stealing in the fourth, then was thrown out by Bonds trying to go from first to third on Aramis Ramirez's single to right in the sixth. "You shouldn't get thrown out at third with no outs," Lamont said. "But he thought Bonds wouldn't be able to right himself going into left-center. But Bonds made a heck of a throw. The other was just a missed hit-and-run." Enrique Wilson, acquired a week earlier from Cleveland, put the Pirates ahead with a two-run homer in the third. "We need more than home runs," Lamont said. Rios hit his game-tying triple in the fourth. Kent's RBI single gave the Giants a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Game notesPittsburgh right-hander Rich Loiselle, activated from the disabled list Thursday, left in the eighth after being hit in the pitching hand by a ball off the bat of Rich Aurilia, the only batter he faced. "I don't think it's anything serious," Lamont said. "The ball hit some nerves and his hand went numb." Loiselle will be re-examined Saturday. ... Giants RHP John Johnstone threw on the side for the first time since going on the 15-day disabled list. He's expected to miss at least another week. ... The Pirates intend to purchase the contract of LHP Dan Serafini on Saturday and he's scheduled to start. ... Benson was second in the NL in ERA at 3.05 after beating the Twins, and is now at 3.52, dropping out of the top 10. ... The Giants have been in first place for five straight days, the longest such streak since June 1-July 25 of last year. ... The Pirates are 4-for-30 (.133) with runners in scoring position over the last four games, all losses. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Pittsburgh Clubhouse San Francisco Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 5 Kansas City 4
San Francisco 5
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