Barry Bonds homered for the fourth consecutive game to raise his career total to 707 and starter Brad Hennessey hit a solo shot while winning for the first time in 10 outings, leading the Giants past the host Nationals 5-1 Wednesday night.
The Giants’ five-game winning streak has coincided with last week’s return of Bonds, who missed most of the season following three knee operations. The team is 6-1 in his starts and Bonds is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with four homers and six RBIs.
“Barry came back and really makes this whole team a lot better,” Giants outfielder Moises Alou said. “It’s a whole different game.”
Bonds is now just eight homers from passing Babe Ruth (714) for second on the career list behind Hank Aaron’s 755.
Poor timing
Trying to whip up playoff fever, Padres officials unveiled a magic number countdown at Petco Park and announced details of the public sale of playoff tickets, should they hold on and win the NL West.
Trouble is, it came less than 24 hours after one of the worst games in team history.
“There are a lot of people who would say, `Gee, aren’t you superstitious, why would you start a countdown after a loss of 20-1 in Colorado?'” Padres CEO Sandy Alderson said. “Obviously you have to put that loss in perspective.”
Extra innings
Jimmy Rollins singled in the fourth inning Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 26 games, tying the Phillies’ franchise record set by Chuck Klein in 1930. . . . Shortstop Rafael Furcal set an Atlanta record with his 187th stolen base of his career.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
San Francisco 5 at Washington 1
W: Hennessey (5-8)
L: Patterson (9-6)
S: Benitez (18)
Nationals lost 4th straight as John Patterson allowed 5 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings, including Brad Hennessey’s 2nd HR of season. Armando Benitez got 2 outs for 18th save for Giants.
Houston 12 at Pittsburgh 8
W: Oswalt (18-12)
L: Wells (7-17)
Lance Berkman hit 20th HR and had 5 RBIs as Astros built 8-0 lead on way to 7th win in 8 games. Berkman hit 3-run HR in 4-run 1st inning and Mike Lamb added 3-run shot in 4-run 2nd.
St. Louis 5 at Cincinnati 1
W: Marquis (13-14)
L: Ortiz (9-11)
Jason Marquis scattered 8 hits and 1 walk in 7 innings and David Eckstein and So Taguchi hit HRs to power Cardinals to 96th win. Marquis shut out Reds until Edwin Encarnacion HR in 7th.
Florida 4 at New York 5
W: Hernandez (7-6)
L: Quantrill (1-2)
Miguel Cairo single scored Jose Reyes with winning run in 9th as Mets handed Marlins 6th loss in 7 games. Florida had taken 4-3 lead in 8th on RBI singles by Lenny Harris and Josh Willingham.
Philadelphia 10 at Atlanta 6
W: Geary (2-1)
L: Davies (7-4)
Ryan Howard hit grand slam in 10th inning to help Phillies keep playoff hopes alive after Braves, behind HRs by Adam LaRoche and Johnny Estrada, twice had overcome 3-run deficits.
San Diego 5 at Colorado 2
W: Peavy (13-7)
L: Esposito (0-1)
S: Hoffman (40)
Jake Peavy gave up 2 runs and 7 hits in 7-plus innings to win for 1st time in 3 starts and Dave Roberts had 2 triples and 2 RBIs as Padres maintained 5-game lead in NL West.
Los Angeles 2 at Arizona 3
W: Webb (13-11)
L: Osoria (0-2)
S: Valverde (10)
Troy Glaus hit 2-run HR and Chad Tracy added RBI triple, backing starter Brandon Webb, who held Dodgers to 2 runs on 9 hits with 11 Ks in 7 2/3 innings. L.A. lost 5th straight and 7th in 8 games.
