King of the World: Barry Bonds Chases Sadaharu Oh

Garrett Garlits · Apr 14, 2024

It's Thursday, June 8, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Zach Duke will start for the Pirates, while Matt Cain gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 5-4.

Let's begin by looking at Bonds' at-bats:

In the first with the Pirates leading 1-0, center fielder Randy Winn led off with a base hit to left. He moved to second on Omar Vizquel's grounder to third, but Lance Niekro struck out swinging for out number two. Bonds was next, and his single to right scored Winn to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Ray Durham's single to right put two men on, but third baseman Pedro Feliz struck out swinging to retire the side.

In the third with the Bucs leading 2-1. Winn led off with a single to left center. Vizquel's single to right center put two men on, and Niekro whacked a double down the left field line that scored both runners and put the Giants in front 3-2. Bonds struck out swinging for the first out, but Durham beat out a bouncer to third for an infield single to put runners at the corners. Feliz lined a base hit to left that drove in Niekro to make it 4-2, with Durham moving to third.

Right fielder Jason Ellison walked to load the bases, and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo grounded Duke''s first pitch into left center for a single. Durham scored easily, and the Giants led 5-2. Cain grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play, but the home squad had scored four runs on six hits to take a 5-2 lead after two.

In the fourth, Winn drew a leadoff walk. Vizquel's single to left center moved him to third. Pirates reliever Tom Gorzelanny struck Niekro and Bonds out swinging, but Durham's single to left center scored Winn to extend the Frisco lead to 6-2. Vizquel moved to third on the hit, but Feliz's grounder to his counterpart Freddy Sanchez ended the inning with runners still at the corners. After four, it was Giants 6, Pirates 2.

In the sixth with two out, Niekro lined a double into the left center power alley. Bonds brought the crowd to its feet with a higb fly to right center, but McLouth made the catch a step in front of the wall to retire the side.

In the ninth, Bonds grounded to third.

Now let's see how the Pirates scored their runs:

In the top of the first with one out, shortstop Jack Wilson dumped a double down the left field line. He moved to third when first baseman Sean Casey grounded to his counterpart Niekro for the second out. Cain gave up back-to-back walks to left fielder Jason Bay and right fielder Jeromy Burnitz, and the bases were loaded. Sanchez followed with a base hit to left that brought Wilson home, and the Bucs led 1-0. The bases were still loaded for second baseman Jose Castillo, but he was called out on strikes to end the inning.

The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the first, but the Pirates reclaimed the lead in the top of the second. Catcher Ronny Paulino led off with a single to right, and Duke also singled to right to put two men on. Cain got the next two outs, as center fielder Nate McLouth flew to Ellison in shallow right and Wilson's popup behind second was caught by Durham. Casey walked to keep the inning alive, and Bay's lined single to left scored Paulino to put the Pirates in front 2-1. The bases were still loaded for Burnitz, but his fly to center was caught by Winn to end the inning.

After the Giants had taken a 6-2 lead, the Bucs' long road back began in the fifth. Burnitz drew a one-out walk, and Sanchez lined a double off the wall in left. Pirates third base coach Jeff Cox meant to hold Burnitz at third, but Jeromy never saw the stop sign. Even a decent throw home would have nailed him at the plate with ease, but Bonds' throw was badly offline, and Burnitz was able to score the third Pittsburgh run.

The Bucs scored twice more in the seventh against Giants reliever Kevin Correia. Bay and Burnitz once again drew back-to-back walks, but Correia recovered to strike out both Sanchez and Castillo swinging. Paulino was next, and his lined single to left center scored Bay to cut the Giants' lead to 6-4. Jose Bautista batted for Gorzelanny and grounded one past a diving Correia and into center for a base hit. Burnitz scored, and we had a 6-5 game. Paulino went to third on the hit, but McLouth forced Bautista to end the inning.

The Buccos tied the game with two out in the top of the eighth when Bay hit Correia's 1-1 curveball down the left field line and over the wall for his thirty-seventh home run of the year to tie the game at six.

The visitors completed their comeback by taking the lead with two runs in the top of the tenth. Casey greeted Giants reliever Brian Wilson with a single up the middle. Bay lined a base hit to left center that put two men on, but Burnitz grounded into a 3-6-3 double play, with Casey moving to third. After Sanchez walked, Castillo lined a base hit to left center. Casey scored, and the Pirates led 7-6.

Wilson departed in favor of Jonathan Sanchez (no relation to Freddy), whose first pitch was lined up the middle by Paulino for a base hit. Freddy scored, and the Pirates led 8-6. Bautista, who had remained in the game as the center fielder on a double switch, struck out swinging to end the inning, but the Pirates led the game 8-6 as we headed to the bottom of the tenth. That turned out to be the final; the Giants put two men on in the bottom of the tenth and chased closer Mike Gonzalez. but fellow reliever John Grabow's 3-2 fastball caught the outside corner as Vizquel stared at it to end the game.

Final totals: Pirates 8-16-0, Giants 6-15-1.

W- Gonzalez (4-4)
S- Grabow (1)
L- B. Wilson (2-4)

HR- PIT: Bay (37)

DW- Benitez (3-2)
DL- Marte (1-6)

LHR- SF: Alou (19)

Bay was named Player of the Game. He was three for four plus two walks with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Honorable mention goes to Paulino; he was four for six with a run scored and two RBIs.

Bonds was one for five with an RBI. He's currently batting .266 (108-406) with thirty-two home runs and ninety-two runs batted in.

As a bonus. let's see if Sanchez maintains his lead in the National League batting race. He came into the game batting .344 (200-582). He was one for four in the original game and two for four in the sim, which gives him a current batting average of .345 (201-582). He has at least a six-point lead over the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera in the National League race, and he's two points behind the Twins' Joe Mauer for the highest average in the majors.

Here are the updated standings in the National League Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3 .5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8.5 GB
Pirates: 68-94- 15.5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB

In the West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 76-85- 11.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

Next: Game 2 between the Pirates and the Giants on Friday, June 9. Victor Santos will start for the Pirates, while Matt Morris heads to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 15, 2024

It's Friday, June 9, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Pirates in the second game of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Victor Santos will pitch for the Pirates, while Matt Morris gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Pirates won the actual game, 3-2.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, right fielder Randy Winn server Santos' first pitch into right center for a bloop single. Omar Vizquel popped to Sean Casey at first for out number one, but Vizquel was able to move to second when home plate umpire Laz Diaz called a balk on Santos. Center fielder Steve Finley flew to Craig Wilson in shallow right for out number two, but Bonds walked on five pitches to put two men on. First baseman Mark Sweeney hit a high fly ball to deep left center, but Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth made the catch just in front of the wall to end the inning.

In the third with the Giants leading 3-0, Bonds was retired on a comebacker to Pirates reliever Kip Wells. First baseman Mark Sweeney was next, and he hit Wells' first pitch fastball over the wall in right field for his fifth home run of the year to extend the Frisco lead to 4-0,

In the fourth with one out, Morris whacked a double into the left center power alley. Winn followed with a low-flying bloop over the head of Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez that found a home in shallow right center and rolled halfway to the wall before McLouth could corral it. Morris scored the fifth Giants run, while Winn ended up at second with a double of his own. Vizquel's grounder to first moved Winn to third with two out, and Finley's lined single to right brought him home to make it 6-0. Bonds' fly to McLouth in shallow right center ended the inning.

In the sixth with one out and the Giants leading 8-1, Bonds smashed Wells' 2-1 fastball over the wall in left center for his thirty-third home run of the year and undisputed career homer Number 845. He's now twenty-three homers behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh. The ball traveled an estimated 382 feet; left center field is 364 feet from home plate at AT&T Park. The Giants now led 9-1.

The trouble wasn't over for Wells, as he gave up back-to-back walks to Sweeney and third baseman Pedro Feliz. Second baseman Jose Vizcaino brought them both home by lining a double off the wall in center, and it was 11-1 Frisco after six.

In the seventh, Winn led off by lining a double over McLouth's head in center. Vizquel grounded to short for the first out, but an exhausted Wells walked Finley and Bonds to load the bases. Sweeney's base hit to left center cashed in Winn and Finley to make it 13-1 Giants, and that was finally all for Kip. Not wanting to waste another pitcher in a lost cause, Pirates manager Jim Tracy sent Joe Randa, normally an infielder, to the mound to try his luck.

Bonds had gone to third on the previous hit, so runners were at the corners for Feliz, who flew to McLouth in shallow left center for out number two, Vizcaino followed with a base hit to left center that brought Bonds home with the fourteenth Frisco run and moved Sweeney to third. Catcher Eliezer Alfonso grounded to short to retire the side.

With the game a blowout, Giants manager Felipe Alou pulled Bonds after seven innings. Sweeney moved to left, while new first baseman Lance Niekro took Bonds' spot in the batting order. The Giants scored twice more in the eighth with the score 14-2, as Vizquel singled to center with two out and scored on a triple off the top of the left field wall by new center fielder Jason Ellison, who scored on Niekro's base hit to right. The Giants took a 16-2 lead into the ninth inning.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants grabbed the game's first lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Alfonzo lined a double to center with two out, Morris was next, and he lined the first pitch he saw from Santos over right fielder Craig Wilson's head and off the wall. Alfonzo scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead, while Morris pulled into second base with a double. Winn beat out a bouncer to second for an infield single to put runners at the corners, and Vizquel's fly to center dropped in front of McLouth, then kicked past him. Morris and Winn scored to make it 3-0 Giants, and Vizquel hustled into third with a standup triple. Finley's popup was caught by Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson to end the inning.

The Boys from the Bay added two runs to their 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sweeney was hit in the knee by a pitch to lead things off. A walk to Feliz put two men on, and Sweeney moved to third on Vizcaino's fly to center. A walk to Alfonzo loaded the bases. Morris struck out swinging, but Winn came through with a lined single to right that scored Sweeney and Feliz to make it 8-0 Frisco,

The Pirates scored for the first time in the top of the sixth. McLouth beat out a bouncer to short for a leadoff infield single. Jack laid down a bunt to move him to second, and Sweeney stayed put on the bag, hoping that the ball would roll foul. It never did, and the Pirates had runners at first and second. Casey lined a base hit to right center that scored McLouth to put the visitors on the board. Morris recovered to strike out the next three batters (Bay, Sanchez, and Craig) swinging.

The Bucs got their second run in the top of the eighth. Trailing 14-1 with one out, Jack hit a ball to straightaway center that hit off the wall and bounced away from Finley. Steve managed to get to the ball and throw it to the plate just in time to hold Jack at third with a triple. Casey's base hit to right brought Jack home with the Bucs' second run. Bay walked to put two men on, but Freddy Sanchez's line drive was gloved by Niekro for the second out, and Craig took a called third strike to end the inning.

The Bucs scored their third and final run in the top of the ninth, by which time they were trailing 16-2. Catcher Humberto Cota lined a single up the middle with one out. After Randa struck out swinging, McLouth rapped a double into the right center power alley to score Cota and establish out final: Giants 16, Pirates 3. Jack's fly to left center was caught by Ellison to end the game.

Final totals: Giants 16-18-0, Pirates 3-9-0.

W- Morris (11-15)
L- Santos (4-10)

HR- SF: Bonds (33), Sweeney (5)

DS- Gonzalez (23)

LHR- PIT: Bay (36)

Winn was named Player of the Game. He went five for six with two doubles, drove in three runs, and scored three more.

Bonds was one for three plus two walks with a home run and two runs scored. He's currently batting .267 (109-409) with thirty-three home runs and ninety-three runs batted in. He's walked 131 times.

Now it's bonus time. Sanchez was hitless in the actual game but went one for four in the sim. His batting average remains at .345 (201-582), and he maintains at least a six-point lead over Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins in the National League batting race. He's still two points behind Joe Mauer of the Twins for the major league batting lead.

Here are the current standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 77-84- 10.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3.5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8 .5 GB
Pirates: 67-95- 16.5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB

Next: Game 3 between the Pirates and Giants on Saturday, June 10. Ian Snell will start for the Pirates, while Noah Lowry heads to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 16, 2024

It's Saturday. June 10, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Pirates in the third game of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Ian Snell will pitch for the Pirates, while Noah Lowry gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Pirates won the actual game, 2-0,

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first with one out, Omar Vizquel walked. He moved to second when Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino threw a pickoff attempt into center field and scored when Steve Finley doubled off the wall in left center to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Bonds walked to put two men on but was forced by first baseman Mark Sweeney. Finley was able to move to third on the out, but Ray Durham grounded to Pirates first baseman Sean Casey to retire the side.

In the third, Bonds walked with two out. Sweeney's lined single to right put two men on, but Durham grounded to third to end the inning.

In the fifth with one out, Vizquel singled to right center. He was forced by Finley for the second out,

Bonds was next. and he hit Snell's 1-1 slider over the wall in right center for a two-run homer to extend the Giants' lead to 3-0. It was his thirty-fourth home run of the year and undisputed career homer Number 846. He's now twenty-two homers behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh.

In the seventh, Winn led off with a single to left. Vizquel's liner was caught by Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson for out number one, and Finley struck out swinging for the second out. Bonds' single to left center put runners at the corners, but Sweeney bounced into a force play to retire the side.

In the bottom of the tenth with the score tied at three, Bonds drew a leadoff walk against Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez. Sweeney lined a single to right to put two men on, but Durham walked to load the bases. Pirates manager Jim Tracy decided to stick with his closer to the end, which came five pitches later as third baseman Pedro Feliz walked to force in Bonds and give the Giants a 4-3 win.

The Pirates were shut out until the top of the eighth. With two out, Joe Randa batted for reliever Matt Capps and beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single. Center fielder Jose Bautista singled to right to put two men on, and Jack's bloop single to center scored Randa to cut the Giants' lead to 3-1. Bautista moved to third on the hit, and Giants manager Felipe Alou excused Lowry and brought in Kevin Correia to face Casey. Sean grounded the first pitch he saw to Durham at second, and the inning was over with runners still at the corners.

The Buccos tied the game with two runs in the ninth. Center fielder Jason Bay drew a leadoff walk against Giants closer Armando Benitez. Right fielder Craig Wilson took a called third strike for out number one, but third baseman Freddy Sanchez singled to center to put two men on. Second baseman Jose Castillo's single to left center scored Bay to cut the Frisco lead to 3-2. Freddy moved to third on the hit and scored to tie the game when Paulino forced Castillo.

Nate McLouth batted for reliever Salomon Torres, and Giants catcher Todd Greene was charged with a passed ball on the first pitch, allowing Paulino to take second. McLouth's grounder to Feliz at third ended the inning.

Final totals: Giants 4-10-0, Pirates 3-9-1.

W- B. Wilson (3-4)
L- Gonzalez (4-5)

HR- SF: Bonds (34)

DW- Snell (13-11)
DS- Gonzalez (22)
DL- Lowry (7-9)

LHR- PIT: Bautista (15), Castillo (13)

Bonds was named Player of the Game. He had hits in both of his official at-bats, including a home run, walked three times, scored twice and drove in two runs, He's currently batting .270 (111-411) with thirty-four home runs and ninety-four runs batted in. He's walked 134 times.

Honorable mention goes to Lowry, who pitched seven and two-thirds innings and held the Bucs to one run on six hits while walking one and striking out seven. He threw ninety-seven pitches.

Now it's bonus time. Sanchez was 0 for 1 in the actual game before being ejected. In the sim, he was two for four. He's currently batting .347 (203-585), which gives him at least an eight-point lead over the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera in the National League batting race, He's tied with Joe Mauer of the Twins for the highest batting average in the majors.

Here are the current standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 78-83- 9.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3.5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8.5 GB
(tie) Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB
(tie) Pirates: 66-96- 17.5 GB

Next: Game 4 between the Pirates and the Giants on Sunday, June 11. Paul Maholm will start for the Pirates, while Jason Schmidt goes to the hill for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 17, 2024

It's Sunday, June 11, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Pirates in the fourth and final game of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Paul Maholm will pitch for the Pirates, while Jason Schmidt gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Pirates won the actual game, 7-5.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the first with one out and the Pirates leading 1-0, Omar Vizquel singled to left center. First baseman Lance Niekro's lined single to left center put runners at the corners, and a walk to Bonds loaded the bases. Ray Durham forced Bonds, which allowed Vizquel to score and tie the game at one while Niekro moved to third. Pedro Feliz was next, and he lined a single to left that cashed in Niekro to give the Giants a 2-1 lead, Right fielder Jason Ellison forced Feliz to end the inning.

In the second, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo led off with a single to left center, but Schmidt grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Maholm kept the inning alive by hitting center fielder Randy Winn in the thigh with a pitch, and Vizquel's single past the mound and into center put runners at the corners. Niekro was next, and he lined a single to right center. Winn scored, and the Giants led 3-1. Vizquel moved to third on the hit, but Bonds' liner was gloved by Pirates second baseman Jose Castillo to retire the side.

In the fourth, Vizquel singled to left. Niekro's popup was caught by Pirates first baseman Sean Casey in front of the Pittsburgh dugout for out number two, and Bonds grounded to Jose Bautista at third to end the inning.

In the sixth with the Giants leading 5-3, Todd Linden batted for Schmidt and drew a leadoff walk, Pirates reliever Tom Gorzelanny threw a wild pitch, which moved Linden to second. Winn popped to third for the first out, but Vizquel's lined single to left brought Linden home to increase the Giants' lead to 6-3. Matt Capps relieved Gorzelanny and retired Niekro on a fly to Jason Bay in shallow left and Bonds on a fly to shallow right to retire the side,

In the eighth with two out and the Giants leading 7-5. Niekro bashed a triple off the wall in center. Bonds walked to put runners at the corners, but Durham's fly to left ended the inning,

Now let's check out the rest of the game action:

In the top of the with one out, Bautista doubled to right center. Casey was next, and he hit the first pitch he saw down the right field line for another double, which scored Bautista and gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth with one out and the Giants leading 3-1, Feliz bashed a triple off the top of the left field wall. Ellison walked to put runners at the corners, and Alfonzo lifted a fly ball to deep right center. Pirates center fielder McLouth made the catch on the warning track, but Feliz trotted home to give the Boys from the Bay a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth with two out, Ellison smacked Maholm's 1-1 slider over the right field wall for a home run to extend the Frisco lead to 5-1. It was his second home run of the year, and it bounced into McCovey Cove.

In the top of the sixth, Bautista led off with a bloop single to right. Casey's double to center moved Joey Bats to third, but Bay struck out swinging for out number one, and right fielder Jeromy Burnitz flew to Winn in right center for out number two. Shortstop Freddy Sanchez was next, and his base hit to left center drove in Bautista and Casey to cut the Giants' lead to 5-3.

In the top of the seventh, Paulino lined a leadoff double to right center, Jack Wilson batted for Capps and grounded to third for out number one. McLouth's single to center moved Paulino to third, but Bautista struck out swinging for the second out. It was up to Casey to salvage the inning, and he came through with a double over Ellison's head in right. Paulino and McLouth scored, and the Frisco lead was cut to 6-5.

Giants manager Felipe Alou ordered an intentional walk to Bay, but the strategy didn't work, as Burnitz lined a single to right to load the bases. Alou called on Brian Wilson to come out of the bullpen to face Sanchez, and this time his move paid off, as Brian struck out Sanchez swinging to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Durham led off against Pirates reliever Salomon Torres with a lined single to left center. Feliz's popup was caught by Castillo behind second base for the first out, and Ellison flew to right center for the second out. Durham stole second, and Alfonso singled up the middle to score Durham and extend the Giants lead to 7-5. There was no further scoring.

Final totals: Giants 7-13-0, Pirates 5-12-0.

W- Schmidt (11-10)
S- Benitez (17)
L- Maholm (8-11)

HR- SF: Ellison (2)

DW- Capps (8-1)
DS- Gonzalez (21)
DL- Worrell (3-1)

LHR- PIT: Bautista (14)
SF: Durham (25), Alou (18)

Vizquel was named Player of the Game. He went four for five with a run scored and a run batted in.

Bonds was hitless in three at-bats plus two walks. He's currently batting .268 (111-414) with thirty-four home runs and ninety-four runs batted in. He's walked 136 times.

Now it's bonus time. Sanchez was one for four in both the actual game and the sim, which means that he's batting .347 (203-585), which gives him at least an eight-point lead over the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera in the National League batting race. He's still tied with the Twins' Joe Mauer for the highest batting average in the majors.

Here are the current standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 88-74
(tie) Dodgers: 88-74
Giants: 79-82- 8.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 12 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 12 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 80-82- 3.5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8.5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB
Pirates: 65-97- 18.5 GB

Bonds' next absence came on Thursday, June 15 against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. I can't replicate the starting lineups, so we'll come back to it later.

The one after that was on Thursday, June 29 against the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park. We'll examine that game next time. John Koronka will start for the Rangers, while Jason Schmidt again pitches for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 18, 2024

It's Thursday, June 29, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Texas Rangers in the third and final game of a three-game series at AT&T Park. John Koronka will pitch for the Rangers, while Jason Schmidt gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat seventh, as his replacement Jason Ellison did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 2-1.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the second, his fly to deep center was caught on the warning track by Rangers center fielder Gary Matthews Jr.

In the third with one out and the Rangers leading 1-0, Omar Vizquel walked, then stole second, He moved to third on Lance Niekro's grounder to second. Walks to Ray Durham and third baseman Pedro Feliz loaded the bases, and a walk to center fielder Steve Finley forced Vizquel home to tie the game at one. Bonds was next, and he scalded a line drive into the right center power alley that cleared the bases to put the Giants in front 4-1. Bonds pulled in at second with a double, and he scored the Giants' fifth run on catcher Eliezer Alfonzo's lined single to left. Final score: Giants 5, Rangers 1.

In the fifth, Finley drew a one-out walk, but was forced by Bonds. Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo struck out swinging to end the inning,

In the eighth, Bonds flew to Matthews in deep right center.

The Rangers scored their only run in the top of the third. With one out, second baseman Ian Kinsler lined a single to right. Koronka bunted him over to second, and Matthews followed with a base hit to right center that brought him home.

Final totals: Giants 5-5-0, Rangers 1-5-0.

W- Schmidt (12-10)
L- Koronka (7-8)

DW- Sanchez (2-1)
DS- Accardo (2)
DL- Feldman (0-1)

Bonds was named Player of the Game. He was one for four with three runs batted in. He's currently batting .268 (112-418) with thirty-four home runs and ninety-seven runs batted in.

Honorable Mention goes to Schmidt. He pitched eight innings, holding the Rangers to one run on five hits while walking two and striking out eight. He threw 108 pitches.

Next: The Giants go south to San Diego for a date with the Padres on Sunday, July 2. Matt Morris will start for the Giants, while Chris Young goes to the mound for the Padres.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 19, 2024

It's Sunday, July 2, 2006, and the Giants are facing the San Diego Padres in the fourth and final game of a four-game series at Petco Park in San Diego. Matt Morris pitches for the Giants, while Chris Young gets the ball for the Padres. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 6-2.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he was hit on the wrist by a pitch. He moved to second on Lance Niekro's bouncer to Mark Bellhorn at third and to third on Ray Durham's lined single to left. But right fielder Jason Ellison was called out on strikes, and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the fourth, Pedro Feliz led off with a lined single to left that would turn out to be the Giants' final hit of the afternoon. Bonds walked to put two men on. Niekro struck out swinging for out number one, but Durham walked to load the bases. Young once again got himself out of trouble, as Ellison was called out on strikes again and Alfonzo's popup was caught by second baseman Josh Barfield to end the inning with the bases still loaded. Young didn't allow another baserunner; he retired the Giants' final fourteen batters in order.

In the sixth, Bonds flew to Padres center fielder Mike Cameron in shallow right center.

In the ninth, he grounded to short.

Now let's run down the scoring:

The Padres got to Morris for the first time with one out in the bottom of the second, as left fielder Eric Young turned on a 1-1 fastball and whacked it down the left field line. Bonds hurried over to try to make a play, but the ball kept carrying until it disappeared over the fence for Young's fourth home run of the year to give the Friars a 1-0 lead.

Right fielder Brian Giles was next, and he hit the first pitch he saw down the right field line; it had home run distance but curved foul at the last second. Undaunted, he smacked Morris's next offering down the right field line too. This one had the distance and cleared the wall fair, and the Padres led 2-0. It was Giles' fifteenth homer of the year.

The biggest inning for the Padres was the second, as they scored four times and sent Morris to an early shower. With one out, Barfield lined a single to left center. Chris Young bunted him over to second; from there, Morris gave up consecutive walks to center fielder Mike Cameron, Eric, and Giles. whose walk forced in Barfield to make it 3-0 San Diego. Catcher Josh Bard was next, and he lined a single to center that brought home Cameron and Young to make it 5-0.

That brought up first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. who ended Morris's afternoon with a base hit to right center that cashed in Giles with the sixth San Diego run and moved Bard to third. Brad Hennessey came out of the Frisco bullpen to retire Bellhorn on a bouncer to short and end the inning.

The Padres added their seventh run in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Geoff Blum doubled to left with one out and scored when Barfield followed with a double to right.

The home squad scored their final two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Eric greeted Giants reliever Brian Wilson with a single to center. He was forced by Giles for out number one. Brian scored on Bard's double off the wall in center to make it 8-0, and Gonzalez finished the scoring by slapping a base hit past Wilson's glove and into center field. Bard came home, and we had our final: Padres 9, Giants 0. Gonzalez took second on Winn's throw to the plate and moved to third on Bellhorn's bounder to second, but Blum's grounder to Feliz at third retired the side.

Final totals: Padres 9-14-0, Giants 0-2-0.

W- C. Young (12-4)
L- Morris (10-16)

HR- SD: Giles (15). E. Young (4)

DS- Wilson

LHR- SF: Durham (24), Feliz (21)

Bard and Chris shared Player of the Game honors. Bard was three for five with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Chris pitched a two-hit shutout, while walking two and striking out eight. He threw 114 pitches. Honorable mention went to Giles, who was one for four with a home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs.

Bonds was hitless in two official at-bats plus a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He's currently batting .267 (112-420) with thirty-four home runs and ninety-seven runs batted in. He's walked 137 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Padres: 89-73
Dodgers: 88-74- 1 GB
Giants: 78-83- 10.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 13 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 13 GB

Bonds' next absence came on Tuesday, July 4 against the Rockies at Coors Field. We'll come back to that game later.

The one after that came on Saturday, July 8 against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. We'll look at that game next time. Noah Lowry will start for the Giants, while Derek Lowe goes to the mound for the Dodgers.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 20, 2024

It's Saturday, July 8, 2006, and the Giants are taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Noah Lowry will pitch for the Giants, while Derek Lowe gets the ball for the Dodgers. Bonds is in left field and will lead off, as his replacement Randy Winn did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 11-7.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, he flew to shallow right center.

In the fourth with the Dodgers leading 1-0, Bonds hit Lowe's 1-2 fastball over the right center field wall for his thirty-fifth home run of the year and undisputed career homer Number 847. He's twenty-one home runs behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh. The game was tied at one.

Omar Vizquel walked on five pitches to continue the inning, then stole second. Right fielder Moises Alou lined a base hit to left that scored Vizquel to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. Lowe got the next two outs, as Ray Durham's popup was caught by Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Feliz flew to shallow center. Center fielder Steve Finley's single up the middle moved Vizquel to third, but catcher Todd Greene's grounder to Cesar Izturis at third ended the inning.

In the fifth with one out, Lowry blooped a single to right center. Bonds flew to right for the second out, and Vizquel's grounder to first ended the inning.

In the seventh with one out and the Dodgers leading 3-2, Lowry singled to right. Bonds walked to put two men on, and Vizquel beat out a slow roller to first for an infield single to load the bases. Alou was next, and he lined the first pitch he saw off the wall in left for a bases-clearing double that gave the Giants a 5-3 lead.

That was all for Lowe; Jonathan Broxton came out of the Dodger pen to face Durham and walked him to put two men on. But he came back to strike out Feliz swinging and retire Finley on a grounder to second to end the inning.

In the eighth with two out and the Dodgers leading 8-5, Todd Linden batted for reliever Jeremy Accardo and drew a leadoff walk. Bonds lined a single to right center that put runners at the corners, but Vizquel's grounder to Rafael Furcal at short ended the inning.

Now here's the rest of the game action:

With one out in the bottom of the second, the Dodgers struck first when center fielder Matt Kemp hit Lowry's 0-1 curveball over the wall in left field for a home run to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. It was his eighth home run of the year.

The Giants had a 2-1 lead after three and a half, but the Men in Blue reclaimed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Garciaparra led off with a fly ball to left center that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. He moved to third on left fielder J.D. Drew's grounder to second and scored on Kemp's lined base hit up the middle to tie the game at two,

Matt promptly stole second, and second baseman Ramon Martinez walked to put two men on. Izruris flew to Finley in shallow left center for out number two, but catcher Toby Hall lined a base hit to left that cashed in Kemp and gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

The Men in Blue took the lead for good by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Hall hit a fly ball to left center that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for another book-rule double. Olmedo Saenz was called on to bat for Broxton, and he lined Lowry's first-pitch fastball over the right field wall for a two-run homer, his eleventh of the year, to tie the game at five.

Lowry's day was done, and Kevin Correia came out of the Frisco bullpen to face Furcal, who beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single, then stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Left fielder Jose Cruz Jr. was next, and his fly to right dropped on the right field line and rolled into the corner. Furcal scored easily, and the Dodgers led 6-5. Two pitches later, Garciaparra stroked a single to right center that brought Cruz home and made it 7-5.

Correia gave way to Jeremy Accardo, who saw his first pitch smacked past him and into center field for a base hit to put runners at the corners. Kemp was next, and his bloop single to right center brought Nomar home with the eighth Los Angeles run and established our final: Dodgers 8, Giants 5. Martinez followed with another bloop single, this one to left, that moved Kemp to third, but Izturis 's fly to shallow center finally ended the inning.

Final totals: Dodgers 8-12-1, Giants 5-10-0.

W- Broxton (5-1)
S- Saito (25)
L- Correia (2-2)

HR- SF: Bonds (35)
LAD: Saenz (11), Kemp (8)

Saenz also hit a home run in the actual game.

DW- Lowry (6-9)
DS- Benitez (16)
DL- Lowe (16-7)

LHR- SF: Durham (23). Alou (17), Lowry

Kemp was named Player of the Game. He was three for four with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs.

Bonds was two for four plus a walk with a home run and two runs scored. He's currently batting .269 (114-424) with thirty-five home runs and ninety-eight runs batted in. He's walked 138 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 89-73
(tie) Dodgers: 89-73
Giants: 77-84- 11.5 GB
(tie) Rockies: 76-86- 13 GB
(tie) Diamondbacks: 76-86- 13 GB

Next: The Giants travel to Washington to face the Nationals at RFK Stadium on Thursday, July 27. Matt Cain will start for the Giants, while Livan Hernandez goes to the hill for the Nationals.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 21, 2024

It's Thursday, July 27, 2006, and the Giants are set to battle the Washington Nationals in the first game of a four-game series at RFK Stadium in Washington. Matt Cain will pitch for the Giants, while Livan Hernandez gets the ball for the Nationals. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life. The Nationals won the actual game, 6-5.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, center fielder Randy Winn drew a leadoff walk. Right fielder Todd Linden's line drive was caught by Nats first baseman Nick Johnson for out number one, but Winn stole second soon after. He was stranded there, as first baseman Shea Hillenbrand flew to left for the second out and Bonds flew to right to end the inning.

In the fourth with one out, Bonds and Ray Durham drew back-to-back walks. Third baseman Pedro Feliz's shallow fly to right was caught by Nats right fielder Austin Kearns for the second out, and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the fifth with two out, Winn stroked a single to left. Linden followed by hitting a ball off the top of the left field wall that actually hit the home run line before bouncing back into the field of play. Winn scored easily to give the Giants a 1-0 lead, while Linden hustled into third with a standup triple. Hillenbrand brought Todd home by lining a base hit up the middle. It was now 2-0 Giants, and Nats manager Frank Robinson excused Hernandez and brought Billy Traber out of the bullpen to face Bonds. Barry lined the first pitch he saw at Johnson to end the inning.

In the seventh with the Nats leading 3-2, shortstop Jose Vizcaino drew a leadoff walk. Moises Alou batted for Cain and hit a bouncer to third. The Nats' Ryan Zimmerman fielded the ball, but his throw to first pulled Johnson off the bag. Alou reached on the error, and there were two men on. Winn's liner was gloved by Nats shortstop Fellipe Lopez for out number one, but Linden's base hit to left loaded the bases.

Hillenbrand was robbed of a possible bases-clearing double when Zimmerman snagged his liner before it rolled down the left field line, and it was up to Bonds with two out. Traber walked Bonds on a 3-2 pitch. which forced Vizzcaino home to tie the game at three. Durham forced Bonds to end the inning with the bases still loaded.

In the ninth with two out, Bonds walked for the third time in the game. Durham lined a single to left center to put runners at the corners, but Feliz flew to Ryan Church is shallow left center to end the game.

Now let's check out the rest of the action:

In the bottom of the fifth with one out and the Giants leading 2-0, Kearns walked. He moved to second when Cain threw a wild pitch. After second baseman Marlon Anderson grounded to his counterpart Durham for out number two, Church stroked a base hit that brought Kearns home and cut the Giants' lead to 2-1.

The Nats took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Lopez lined a leadoff single to left. A walk to Zimmerman put two men on, and Johnson brought both runners home with a double into the right center power alley. After six, it was Washington 3, San Francisco 2.

As we saw earlier, the Giants tied the game in the top of the seventh. But the Nats scored what turned out to be the winning runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Church dumped a base hit into center field. Catcher Robert Fick was next, and he doubled down the right field line to score Church and give the Nats a 4-3 lead. Alex Escobar batted for Traber and singled to left to put runners at the corners. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano lined a base hit up the middle that brought Fick home and extended the Nats' lead to 5-3. Escobar moved to third on the hit.

Giants reliever Kevin Correia gave way to Jeremy Accardo, who struck Lopez out swinging. Soriano stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Zimmerman's fly to shallow left was caught by Bonds to retire the side.

The Giants closed out the scoring in the top of the ninth. Feliz led off by hitting a 1-1 slider from Nats closer Chad Cordero over the left center field wall for his twenty-second home run of the year to cut the Washington lead to 5-4. Cordero got the next two outs, as Alfonzo's fly to deep left center was run down by Church in the power alley for out number one and Sweeney (batting for Vizcaino) grounded to second for the second out. Omar Vizquel batted for Accardo and singled to center, then stole second. But Johnson gloved Winn's liner to end the game. Our final: Nationals 5, Giants 4,

Final totals: Nationals 5-7-1, Giants 4-9-0.

W- Traber (5-3)
L- Correia (2-3)

HR- SF: Feliz (22)

DW- Hernandez (12-13)
DL- Cain (15-9)

LHR- SF: Alfonzo 2 (10)
WSH: Soriano (45). Zimmerman (19)

Fick was named Player of the Game because he drove in the eventual winning run.

Bonds was hitless in two official at-bats plus three walks. He's currently batting .268 (114-426) with thirty-five home runs and ninety-eight runs batted in, He's walked 141 times.

Next: The Nats and Giants meet again on Tuesday, August 1, this time at AT&T Park. We have the same pitching matchup: Livan Hernandez (Nationals) against Matt Cain (Giants).

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 23, 2024

I've decided to change course and do the two games that I skipped over earlier. The first of these is on Thursday, June 15, as the Giants take on the Diamondbacks in the third and final game of a three-game series at Chase Field in Phoenix. Matt Morris will pitch for the Giants, while Miguel Batista takes the ball for the Diamondbacks. Bonds is in left field and will lead off, as his replacement Randy Winn did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 8-2.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, he grounded to second.

In the third, his line drive was caught by Diamondbacks first baseman Tony Clark.

In the fifth with the Giants leading 2-0, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo led off with a single to left. Morris's popup was caught by second baseman Damion Easley for out number one. Bonds followed with a fly ball to right center that dropped on the warning track and bounced over the wall for a book-rule double, which moved Alfonzo to third. Omar Vizquel was next, and his single to right scored Alfonzo and Bonds to extend the Frisco lead to 4-0.

Two pitches later with center fielder Steve Finley at the plate, Vizquel stole second. Finley was eventually retired on a shallow fly to Shawn Green in right, but Green's counterpart Moises Alou ended Batista's day with a base hit to left that scored Vizquel to make it 5-0. Juan Cruz relieved at that point and faced Ray Durham, whose single to left put two on. but Pedro Feliz struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the sixth with one out, Alfonzo singled to left. Morris flew to Jeff DaVanon in left center for out number two, but Bonds walked to put two men on. The runners were stranded when Vizquel struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the eighth with the Giants leading 6-0, first baseman Jose Vizcaino drew a leadoff walk against new D-Backs pitcher Greg Aquino. Alfonzo was next, and he hit Aquino's 2-0 fastball over the right field wall for a two-run homer. his eleventh of the year, to extend the visitors' lead to 8-0. Morris flew to shallow center for the first out, and Bonds struck out swinging for out number two. Vizquel kept the inning alive with a base hit to right, but Finley's grounder to Easley at second retired the side.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants scored twice in the top of the second to take the early lead. Durham led off with a fly ball to dead center that evaded DaVanon's glove and disappeared over the wall for Ray's twenty-fourth home run of the year and a 1-0 Giants lead.

Feliz followed by lining a triple into the right field corner. Vizcaino's liner was gloved by Easley for out number one, but Feliz hit a fly ball down the left field line. D-Backs left fielder Luis Gonzalez made the catch and threw toward the plate; the ball was cut off by shortstop Craig Counsell, who fired a perfect strike home. Knowing that the tag was waiting for him, Feliz went as far to the outside as he dared, and his foot touched the plate just ahead of Snakes catcher Johnny Estrada's tag. The Giants led 2-0,

The Giants led 5-0 with two out in the top of the seventh when Durham hammered Cruz's first-pitch fastball into the second row of seats in right center for his second home run of the game and twenty-fifth of the year to make it 6-0. The ball traveled an estimated 398 feet; right center field is 374 feet from home plate at Chase Field.

The Frisco lead had increased to 8-0 in the bottom of the eighth when the D-Backs finally got on the board. Counsell led off with a single to right and scored when DaVanon walloped a triple off the top of the right field wall and just below the home run line. Third baseman Chad Tracy was next; his fly to left was caught by Bonds, but Barry's throw to the plats went up the first base line and almost rolled into the Giants' dugout. DaVanon thus scored easily, and the Giants' lead was 8-2 after eight,

The Giants added one last run in the top of the ninth. Alou beat out a bouncer to third for a leadoff infield single and scored when Durham lined a double off the wall in right, Final score: Giants 9, Diamondbacks 2.

Final totals: Giants 9-14-1. Diamondbacks 2-5-0.

Pitchers' records remain the same.

HR- SF: Durham 2 (25), Alfonzo (11)

Alfonzo also hit a home run in the actual game.

LHR- SF: Feliz (21)

Durham was named Player of the Game. He was four for five with two home runs and three RBIs. Honorable mention goes to Morris, who no-hit the Snakes for five and a third innings.

Bonds was one for four plus a walk with a run scored. He's currently batting .267 (115-430) with thirty-five home runs and ninety-eight runs batted in. He's walked 142 times.

Next: The Giants face the Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, July 4. Jason Schmidt will start for the Giants, while Jeff Francis goes to the mound for the Rockies.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 23, 2024

It's Tuesday, July 4. 2006, and the Giants are taking on the Rockies in the second game of a three-game series at Coors Field. Jason Schmidt will pitch for the Giants, while Jeff Francis gets the ball for the Rockies. Bonds is in left field and will bat seventh. as his replacement Jason Ellison did in real life. The Rockies won the actual game, 6-1.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the second with the Rockies in front 1-0, Ray Durham drew a leadoff walk, but was erased when Pedro Feliz hit the first pitch he saw back to Francis, who threw to second to start a 1-4-3 double play. Steve Finley and Bonds drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Eliezer Alfonzo lined a base hit to left center that brought Finley home to tie the game at one. Schmidt followed by lining a single up the middle that cashed in Bonds to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Right fielder Randy Winn made it three consecutive line-drive hits with a single to right, and Alfonzo was sent home by Giants third base coach Gene Glynn. Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe's throw to the plate was a bit offline, but catcher J.D. Closser was able to corral it and tag his counterpart to end the inning.

In the fourth, Bonds flew to Cory Sullivan in shallow right center.

In the sixth with the score tied at three, Bonds lined Francis's 0-2 fastball over the wall in right center to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. It was his thirty-sixth home run of the year and undisputed career home run Number 847. He's now twenty-one home runs behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh.

After Alfonzo took a called third strike for out number one, Schmidt whacked Francis's first pitch over the right field wall and into the first row of seats for a home run to extend the Giants' lead to 5-3, It was his second home run of the year, and the ball traveled an estimated 373 feet. Right field is 350 feet away from home plate at Coors Field.

In the eighth, Bonds struck out swinging.

Now let's check out the rest of the game action:

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when second baseman Jamey Carroll lined Schmidt's 1-1 slider into the first row of seats in left field for a home run. It was his sixth home run of the year.

After the Giants took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second, the Rox retied the game in the bottom of the inning. Closser led off with a triple into the right field corner and scored on shortstop Clint Barmes's base hit to center. Francis bunted Barmes over to third, but Clint was stranded when Carroll bounced to Durham at second and Sullivan flew to Finley in shallow right center to end the inning.

The Giants took the lead again in the top of the third. Omar Vizquel led off by beating out a bouncer to short for an infield single. First baseman Lance Niekro's lined single to right center put runners at the corners, and Vizquel came home when Durham bounced into a 4-6-3 double play. After two and a half, it was San Francisco 3, Colorado 2.

The Rockies tied the game again with a run in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, left fielder Matt Holliday singled to right center. Third baseman Garrett Atkins was next, and he doubled into the right center power alley to score Holliday and tie the game at three. Holliday moved to third on Hawpe's grounder to second, but Closser struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Rox closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth, Sullivan belted a leadoff triple into the right center power alley. After first baseman Todd Helton was called out on strikes, Holliday's bloop fell in right field for a base hit, which brought Sullivan home and established our final: Giants 5, Rockies 4.

Final totals: Giants 5-13-0, Rockies 4-12-1.

W- Schmidt (13-9)
S- Benitez (17)
L- Francis (12-12)

HR- SF: Bonds (36), Schmidt (2)
COL: Carroll (6)

LHR- COL: Atkins (28), Helton (14)

Schmidt was named Player of the Game. While his pitching stats weren't great- he gave up four runs on eleven hits in seven innings while walking one and striking out seven- he made up for it at the plate, going three for three with a home run, a double, and an RBI single. Honorable mention goes to Hawpe, who kept the game close for the Rox by throwing Alfonzo out at the plate twice.

Bonds was one for three plus a walk with a home run and two runs scored, He's currently batting .268 (116-433) with thirty-six home runs and ninety-nine runs batted in, He's walked 143 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 89-73
(tie) Dodgers: 89-73
Giants: 78-83- 10.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 13 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 14 GB

Next: Game 2 between the Nationals and the Giants on Tuesday, August 1 at AT&T Park. Livan Hernandez will start for the Nationals, while Matt Cain goes to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 24, 2024

It's Tuesday, August 1, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Nationals in the second game of a three-game series at AT&T Park. Livan Hernandez will pitch for the Nationals, while Matt Cain gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Nationals won the actual game, 4-1.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first. right fielder Randy Winn led off with a single to right center. Omar Vizquel's popup was caught by Nats first baseman Nick Johnson for out number one, but Johnson's counterpart Mark Sweeney singled to right center to put runners at the corners. A walk to Bonds loaded the bases. and a walk to second baseman Ray Durham brought Winn home and gave the Giants a 1-0 lead, Center fielder Steve Finley hit a fly ball to right that got stuck on the bullpen awning; it was called a ground-rule double by first base umpire Rob Drake, which meant that both Sweeney and Bonds were allowed to score. The Giants now led 3-0.

Third baseman Shea Hillenbrand was next, and he lined a double over the head of Nats left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Durham and Finley scored, and it was 5-0 Frisco. Nats pitching coach Randy St. Claire came to the mound for a word with Hernandez, but his advice did no good, as catcher Eliezer Alfonzo lashed a double into the left center power alley to score Hillenbrand and make it 6-0.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors, as they had Alfonzo picked off, only for catcher Brian Schneider to throw the ball into center field, which allowed Alfonzo to go to third anyway. Hernandez managed to strike Cain out swinging for out number two, but Winn's single to right cashed in Alfonzo with the seventh run of the inning. Hernandez departed at that point, and reliever John Patterson retired Vizquel on a fly to Soriano in shallow left to retire the side.

In the second, Bonds grounded to Nick Johnson at first.

In the fourth with two out, Sweeney was hit in the back by a pitch. Bonds flew to right center to end the inning.

In the seventh with two out and the Giants leading 8-5, Bonds walked. Durham followed with a fly ball to left center that dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double, which moved Bonds to third. Finley was next, and he stroked a base hit to right that brought home both Durham and Bonds and extended the Giants' lead to 10-5. Hillenbrand's double off the wall in center brought Finley and established our final: Giants 11, Nationals 5. Alfonzo struck out swinging to retire the side,

In the eighth with two out, Vizquel walked. Sweeney hit a grounder to first that was muffed by Johnson, allowing Sweeney to reach on the error. Bonds struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Nats got on the board with three runs in the top of the third. Patterson led off with a single to right center. Soriano struck out swinging for out number one, but shortstop Felipe Lopez walked to put two men on. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took a called third strike for out number two, but Johnson walked to load the bases. Right fielder Austin Kearns unloaded them by lining a double into the right center power alley, and the Giants' lead was cut to 7-3.

The Giants got a run back in the bottom of the third when Finley hit Patterson's 1-2 curveball over the left center field wall for his seventh home run of the year to extend their lead to 8-3.

The Nats cut into their deficit with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Daryle Ward batted for Patterson to lead off and took a fastball from Cain in the side of the head; he was up and around in a few moments and was able to stay in the game. Soriano lined a single to right to put two men on, but Lopez's popup was caught by Sweeney for out number one. Zimmerman forced Soriano for the second out, with Ward moving to third. Johnson lined a base hit to right that brought Daryle home to cut the Frisco lead to 8-4, and Kearns followed with a lined single to left that scored Zimmerman (with the help of a badly offline throw to the plate by Bonds) that made it 8-5. Kearns went to third on the hit, but Church struck out swinging to end the inning.

Final totals: Giants 11-11-1, Nationals 5-7-2.

W- Cain (16-8)
L- Hernandez (11-14)

HR- SF: Finley (7)

DS- Cordero (28)

Finley was named Player of the Game. He was three for four with a home run, three runs scored, and five RBIs.

Bonds was hitless in three at-bats, walked twice, and scored twice. He's currently batting .266 (116-436) with thirty-six home runs and ninety-nine runs batted in. He's walked 145 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

(tie) Padres: 89-73
(tie) Dodgers: 89-73
Giants: 79-82- 9.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 13 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 14 GB

In the East:

Mets: 97-65
Phillies: 85-77- 12 GB
(tie) Braves: 78-84- 19 GB
(tie) Marlins: 78-84- 19 GB
Nationals: 70-92- 27 GB

Next: Game 3 between the Nationals and the Giants on Wednesday, August 2. Tony Arnas will start for the Nationals, while Jason Schnidt goes to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Apr 25, 2024

It's Wednesday, August 2, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Nationals in the third and final game of a three-game series at AT&T Paek. Tony Armas will start for the Nationals, while Jason Schmidt gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fourth, as his replacement Moises Alou did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 8-6.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first with two out, Steve Finley and Bonds drew back-to-back walks. Ray Durham's liner was gloved by Nats shortstop Felipe Lopez to retire the side,

In the third, right fielder Randy Winn led off with a bloop single to right. Omar Vizquel flew to Ryan Church in right center for the first out, but Finley's double off the wall in right scored Winn to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch from Armas moved Finley to third, and Bonds followed with a fly ball to deep right. Austin Kearns made the catch at the wall, but Finley was able to score without a throw, and it was 2-0 Giants after three,

In the fifth with the Nats leading 5-2, Vizquel led off with a bouncer to second. The Nats' Marlon Anderson couldn't find the handle, allowing Vizquel to reach on the error. Finley followed with a fly ball to center that dropped in, then kicked past Church and rolled to the warning track, Vizquel scored from first to make it a 5-3 game, while Finley hustled to third, where he pulled in with a standup triple. Bonds unleashed another fly to the warning track in right to bring Finley home, and all of a sudden it was 5-4.

Durham's popup was caught by Nats first baseman Nick Johnson for the second out, but Giants first baseman Shea Hillenbrand clobbered Armas's first-pitch fastball into the second row of seats in left center field for a home run to tie the game at five. It was Hillenbrand's twenty-first home run of the year, and it traveled an estimated 388 feet. Left center field is 364 feet from home plate at AT&T Park.

In the seventh with one out, Finley walked. Bonds took a called third strike for the second out, and Durham flew to Church in shallow center to end the inning.

In the ninth with the Nats leading 8-6, Winn hit a 1-1 curveball from Nats closer Chad Cordero over the right field wall for a home run, his thirteenth of the year, to cut the Washington lead to 8-7. Cordero got the next two outs, as Vizquel grounded to first and Finley flew to Kearns in shallow right. Bonds walked for the third time in the game to bring the potential winning run to the plate, but Durham bounced into a force play to end the game.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants led 2-0 when the Nats scored their first run in the top of the fourth. Shortstop Felipe Lopez drew a leadoff walk. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single to right that put runners at the corners. Johnson struck out swinging for out number one, and Kearns flew to Winn in shallow right for the second out. A wild pitch from Schmidt brought Lopez home and cut the Giants' lead to 2-1. Church struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Nats took the lead with four runs in the top of the fifth. Anderson led off with a base hit to right center. Catcher Brian Sxhneider's popup was caught by Hillenbrand for out number one, and Armas hit a comebacker to Schmidt who threw to second for the force on Anderson and out number two, Left fielder Alfonso Soriano walked to put two men on, and Lopez's single to right loaded the bases. Zimmerman was next, and he lined a base hit to left center. Armas and Soriano scored to give the Nats a 3-2 lead, while Lopez moved to third.

Next up was Johnson, whose double to right scored Lopez and Zimmerman to give the visitors a 5-2 lead. That was all for Schmidt; Jonathan Sanchez relieved and struck Kearns out swinging to end the inning.

The Nats took the lead with a run in the top of the seventh, Alex Escobar batted for Armas and stroked a leadoff single to left. Soriano lined a base hit to right center that put runners at the corners. Lopez bounced into a force play, which eliminated Soriano but allowed Escobar to score and gave the Nats a 6-5 lead.

The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. Hillenbrand lined a leadoff double off the wall in left. He moved to third when Schneider threw a pickoff attempt into center field. Third baseman Pedro Feliz was called out on strikes for out number one, but a wild pitch by Nats reliever Saul Rivera allowed Hillenbrand to score the tying run. We went to the ninth tied at six.

Giants closer Armando Benitez came on to pitch the top of the ninth, and the Nats caused trouble for him right away. Schneider drew a leadoff walk, and pinch hitter Daryle Ward lined a base hit to right that moved Schneider to third with the go-ahead run. Soriano's bouncer to second moved Ward up ninety feet. but Lopez struck out swinging at three consecutive pitches that were nowhere near the strike zone.

It was up to Zimmerman to give the Nats the lead, and he did so with a bloop into shallow right that fell between the outgoing Hillenbrand and the outgoing Winn, who compounded the felony by bumping into each other. By the time they got themselves together, both Schneider and Ward had scored, and the Nats led 8-6. Johnson followed with a single to right center that put runners at the corners, and Giants manager Felipe Alou called on Jeremy Accardo to get the final out of the inning. He did, as Kearns struck out swinging.

Final totals: Nationals 8-11-2, Giants 7-10-0,

W- Rivera (4-0)
S- Cordero (29)
L- Benitez (3-3)

HR- SF: Hillenbrand (21), Winn (13)

Note: Hillenbrand also hit a home run in the actual game.

DW- Schmidt (12-9)
DS- Stanton (7)
DL- Armas (9-11)

LHR- WSH: Soriano 2 (43), Johnson (22)
SF: Alou (16)

Zimmerman was named Player of the Game. He was three for five with a run scored and four RBIs.

Bonds was hitless in his only official at-bat, but he walked twice and drove in two runs with sacrifice flies. He's currently batting .265 (116-437) with thirty-six home runsand 101 runs batted in, He's walked 147 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League East:

Mets: 97-65
Phillies: 85-77- 12 GB
(tie) Mets:78-84- 19 GB
(tie) Marlins: 78-84- 19 GB
Nationals: 71-91- 26 GB

In the West:

(tie) Padres: 89-73
(tie) Dodgers: 89-73
Giants: 78-83- 10.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 13 GB
Rockies: 75- 87- 14 GB

Next: The Giants take on the Padres on Thursday, August 17 at Petco Park. Matt Cain will pitch for the Giants, while Jake Peavy goes to the mound for the Padres.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Friday at 8:36 PM

It's Thursday, August 17, 2006, and the Giants are taking on the Padres in the fourth and final game of a four-game series at Petco Park, Matt Cain will pitch for the Giants, while Jake Peavy gets the ball for the Padres, Bonds is in left field and will bat sixth, as his replacement Todd Linden did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 8-4.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the second with two out, he walked. Shortstop Pedro Feliz flew to shallow left to end the inning.

In the fourth with one out and the Padres leading 2-0, third baseman Shea Hillenbrand lined a base hit to left center. Right fielder Moises Alou lined a single to left to put two men on, and first baseman Mark Sweeney followed with a double to right that scored Hillenbrand and put the Giants on the board.

Bonds was next, and he hit a fly ball to left that hit just below the home run line and bounced back past the outfielders. Padres left fielder Dave Roberts finally got to the ball, but by then both Alou and Sweeney had scored to give the Giants a 3-2 lead and Bonds, bad knees and all, had chugged into third with a standup triple. He was stranded at third, as Feliz grounded to second and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo flew to Brian Giles in right to end the inning.

In the seventh, Bonds' fly to right was caught by Giles on the warning track.

In the ninth with one out, Alou singled to right. Sweeney's line drive was speared by his counterpart Adrian Gonzalez for the second out, and Bonds' popup was caught by second baseman Todd Walker to end the game.

Now let's see how the Padres scored their runs:

They began the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Center fielder Ben Johnson drew a leadoff walk. After shortstop Khalil Greene struck out swinging, third baseman Mark Bellhorn belted a triple into the right field corner. Johnson scored, and the Padres led 1-0. Peavy followed with a fly ball to right center; Finley made the catch, but his throw to the plate was late, and Bellhorn scored to give the Friars a 2-0 lead.

The Giants led 3-2 after three and a half, but the Padres scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead. With one out, Johnson singled past Cain's glove and into center field. Greene was next. and he lined Cain's 1-1 fastball over the wall in left center for a two-run homer, his sixteenth of the year. After four, it was San Diego 4, San Francisco 3.

The Friars added one last run in the bottom of the eighth when Giles led off by hitting a first-pitch fastball from Giants reliever Kevin Correia over the right field wall for his sixteenth home run of the year. Our final: Padres 5, Giants 3,

Final totals: Padres 5-7-0, Giants 3-6-0.

W- Peavy (12-13)
S- Hoffman (47)
L- Cain (15-9)

HR- SD: Greene (16), Giles (16)

LHR- SF: Feliz (20). Frandsen (1)
SD: Barfield (12)

Peavy was named Player of the Game. He pitched eight innings, giving up three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out six. He threw ninety-five pitches. At the plate, he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Bonds was one for three plus a walk with two RBIs. He's currently batting .266 (117-440) with thirty-six home runs and 103 runs batted in. He's walked 148 times.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Padres: 90-72
Dodgers: 89-73- 1 GB
Giants: 77-84- 12.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 14 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 15 GB

Next: The Giants host the Reds on Saturday, August 26. Bronson Arroyo will start for the Reds, while Noah Lowry heads to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Saturday at 5:48 PM

It's Saturday, August 26, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Cincinnati Reds in the third game of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Bronson Arroyo will pitch for the Reds, while Noah Lowry gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat fifth, as his replacement Mark Sweeney did in real life. The Giants won the actual game, 4-1.

Let's begin by looking at Bonds' at-bats:

In the second, Ray Durham led off by lining a base hit up the middle. Bonds followed with a single to right center that put two men on, but Steve Finley grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Durham ended up at third with two out, and he scored when Pedro Feliz served a bloop over the head of Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and into center field for a single to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Catcher Todd Greene struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the fourth, Durham led off with a double to left. Bonds' fly to right was caught at the wall by the Reds' Ryan Freel for the first out, which allowed Durham to move to third. Both Finley and Feliz were called out on strikes to end the inning.

In the sixth, first baseman Shea Hillenbrand led off by drilling a double off the right field wall. Durham lined a base hit to center to put runners at the corners but was thrown out trying to steal second. Bonds walked to put runners at first and third again, but Finley's popup was caught by Reds first baseman Rich Aurilia (both a former and future Giant) for the second out, and Feliz forced Bonds to end the inning.

In the eighth, Bonds grounded to first.

Now let's check out the rest of the game action:

The Reds took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the third. Freel drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on shortstop Royce Clayton's grounder to first, and scored to tie the game at one on center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s single to right. Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion's liner was gloved by shortstop was gloved by Omar Vizquel for out number two, but left fielder Adam Dunn doubled over Finley's head in center to score Junior and put the Reds in front 2-1. Aurilia walked to put two men on, but catcher David Ross's fly to deep left center was run down by Finley in the power alley to end the inning.

The visitors added to their lead in the fourth with one out when Arroyo smacked Lowry's 1-1 fastball over the right field wall for his third home run of the year to make it a 3-1 game.

The other half of the Cincinnati battery went deep leading off the top of the sixth, as Ross poleaxed Lowry's 1-0 hanging curve into the second row of seats in left center for his twenty-first home run of the year to extend the Reds' lead to 4-1. The ball traveled an estimated 391 feet; left center field is 364 feet from home plate at AT&T Park.

The Reds added one last run in the top of the ninth. Clayton lined a two-out single to left and scored on Junior's double down the left field line to give the Reds a 5-1 lead. Giants reliever Jeremy Accardo walked Encarnacion and Dunn to load the bases, but Aurilia flew to Bonds in left to end the inning.

The Giants got a pair of runs back against Arroyo in the bottom of the ninth. Finley led off by beating out a bouncer to third for an infield single, and Feliz followed by pounding Arroyo's 0-1 fastball over the left field wall for a two-run homer, his twenty-first of the year, to cut the Giants' lead to 5-3. Bronson retired the next three batters in order to end the game, with the final out coming on right fielder Randy Winn's grounder to Aurilia at first.

Final totals: Reds 5-10-0. Giants 3-11-0,

W- Arroyo (15-10)
L- Lowry (6-10)

HR- CIN: Ross (21), Arroyo (3)
SF: Feliz (21)

Note: Ross also hit a home run in the actual game.

DS- Stanton (6)

LHR- SF: Hillenbrand (20)

Arroyo was named Player of the Game. He went the distance on the mound, giving up three runs and scattering eleven hits while walking one and striking out eight, He threw 120 pitches. At the plate, he was one for three plus a sacrifice bunt with a home run.

Bonds was one for three plus a walk. He's currently batting ,266 (118-443) with thirty-six home runs and 103 runs batted in. He's walked 149 times.

Here are the current standings in the National League West:

Padres: 90-72
Dodgers: 89-73- 1 GB
Giants: 76-85- 13.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 14 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 15 GB

In the Central:

Cardinals: 83-78
Astros: 82-80- 1.5 GB
Reds: 81-81- 2.5 GB
Brewers: 75-87- 8.5 GB
Cubs: 66-96- 17.5 GB
Pirates: 67-95- 18.5 GB

Next: The Giants head to Wrigley Field to battle the Cubs on Friday, September 1. Noah Lowry will again start for the Giants, while Rich Hill answers the bell for the Cubs.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Sunday at 6:49 PM

It's Friday. September 1, 2006, and the Giants are taking on the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Noah Lowry will pitch for the Giants. while Rich Hill gets the ball for the Cubs. Bonds is batting sixth; he'll start the game in left field, then move to right field in the seventh inning, as his replacement Todd Linden did in real life. The Cubs won the actual game, 6-2.

Let's examine Bonds' at-bats first:

In the second, he grounded to short.

In the fourth with one out, he walked. Pedro Feliz struck out swinging for out number two, but catcher Todd Greene hit a fly ball down the left field line that hopped over the wall for a book-rule double, which forced Bonds to stop at third. Lowry's bouncer to the Cubs' Ryan Theriot at second retired the side.

In the sixth with the Cubs leading 5-1, Ray Durham lined Hill's 1-1 fastball over the wall in right center for a home run to cut the Cubs' lead to 5-2. It was his twenty-sixth homer of the year.

Hill rebounded to strike Bonds and Feliz out swinging, but Greene kept the inning alive with a base hit to center. Lowry's fly to shallow left center was caught by Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre to end the inning.

In the eighth, Bonds drew a leadoff walk against Cubs reliever Scott Eyre. He was forced by Feliz, but Greene walked to put two men on. Linden batted for reliever Jonathan Sanchez, and Eyre struck him out swinging. Center fielder Randy Winn's popup was caught by Cubs shortstop Ronny Cedeno to end the inning.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Cubs grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. With two out, third baseman Aramis Ramirez singled to left center. First baseman Derrek Lee followed by belting Lowry's 1-2 fastball over the left field wall for a two-run homer, his ninth of the year, to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

The home squad added three more runs after two out in the bottom of the second. Pierre beat out a grounder to third for an infield single. Theriot's bloop single to left center put runners at the corners, and he quickly stole second. Ramirez was next, and he stroked a single to left center. Both Pierre and Theriot scored, and the Cubs led 4-0. Lee walked to put two men on, and catcher Michael Barrett followed with another single to left center. Ramirez scored to extend the Cubs' lead to 5-0, while Lee moved to third. Right fielder Jacque Jones grounded to Durham at second to end the inning.

The Giants got on the board with a run in the top of the third. Feliz led off with a single to left. Greene whacked a double down the right field line to move Feliz to third, but Lowry struck out swinging for out number one. Winn followed with a sharp grounder past Hill's glove and into center field for a single, which scored Feliz to cut the Giants' deficit to 5-1. Omar Vizquel walked to load the bases, but first baseman Shea Hillenbrand flew to the Cubs Matt Murton in shallow left for the second out, and right fielder Moises Alou struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Cubs closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Theriot led off with a double into the right center power alley. Ramirez was next, and he hit Sanchez's 2-0 fastball deep to left field and all the way out of the ballpark on to nearby Waveland Avenue for a two-run homer, his thirty-ninth of the year. The ball traveled an estimated 391 feet; left field is 355 feet away from home plate at Wrigley Field. Our final: Cubs 7, Giants 2.

Final totals: Cubs 7-13-0, Giants 2-9-0.

Pitchers' records remain the same.

HR- SF: Durham (26)
CHC: Ramirez (39), Lee (9)

LHR- CHC: Murton (12), Theriot (2)

Ramirez was named Player of the Game. He was three for four with three runs scored, a home run and four RBIs. Honorable mention goes to Hill; he pitched six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out seven. He threw ninety-nine pitches. Another honorable mention goes to Lee, who was two for three plus a walk with a two-run homer.

Bonds was hitless in two official at-bats plus two walks. He's currently batting .265 (118-445) with thirty-six home runs and 103 runs batted in. He's walked 151 times.

Next: The Giants entertain the Dodgers on Saturday, September 29 at AT&T Park, Greg Maddux will start for the Dodgers, while Matt Cain goes to the mound for the Giants.

Note: There are four other games that Bonds missed in 2006 where I can't replicate the complete starting lineup. I'll do those after I do this game.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Monday at 5:38 PM

It's Saturday, September 29, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Dodgers in the second game of a three-game series at AT&T Park. Greg Maddux will pitch for the Dodgers, while Matt Cain gets the ball for the Giants, Bonds is in left field and will lead off, as his replacement Todd Linden did in real life. The Dodgers won the actual game, 4-2.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, he singled to right. Omar Vizquel followed with a bloop that fell in the left center power alley for a double. Bonds scored, and the Giants led 1-0.

Lance Niekro grounded to the Dodgers' Wilson Betemit at third for the first out, but Ray Durham walked to put two men on. Right fielder Moises Alou's fly to left center was caught by Dodgers center fielder Kenny Lofton for out number two, with Vizquel moving to third. Center fielder Steve Finley was next, and his fly to deep right center dropped on the warning track and hopped over the wall for a book-rule double. Vizquel was awarded home plate, and the Giants led 2-0 after one,

In the second, Cain walked with one out. Bonds struck out swinging, and Vizquel's grounder to former Giant Jeff Kent at first ended the inning.

In the fourth with the Giants leading 5-0, Bonds drew a leadoff walk, Vizquel rapped a single past Maddux's glove and into center field for a single that put two men on, Niekro lined a single to right that drove in Bonds to make it 6-0 Frisco. Vizquel went to third on the hit and scored the home squad's seventh run when Durham forced Niekro,

In the fifth, third baseman Pedro Feliz limed a leadoff double to right, Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo struck out swinging for out number one, but Cain helped his own cause by lashing a double into the left center power alley. Feliz scored, and the Giants led 8-0.

Reliever Hong Chih-Kuo came out of the Dodgers' bullpen to face Bonds, who took a called third strike for the second out, Vizquel's popup was caught by Betemit in foul territory to end the inning.

In the seventh, Bonds flew to Lofton in right center.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The Giants was already leading 2-0 when they added three runs in the bottom of the third. Niekro beat out a leadoff bouncer to short for an infield single. Durham's base hit to left center put two men on, but Alou grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, with Niekro moving to third. Finley walked on five pitches to keep the inning alive, and Feliz's lined single to left scored Niekro to extend the Giants' lead to 3-0. Alfonzo was next, and he ripped a double into the right center power alley. Finley and Feliz scored, and the Giants led 5-0. Cain's grounder to second retired the side.

The Dodgers scored for the first time in the top of the sixth. With two out, Lofton slapped a grounder past the mound and into center field for a single. Second baseman Julio Lugo lined a double into the right center power alley to bring Lofton home and put the Dodgers on the board. Kent walked to put two men on, but right fielder J.D. Drew's grounder to Durham at second ended the inning.

The Men in Blue scored their other runs against a tiring Cain in the seventh. Betemit led off by hitting Cain's first-pitch fastball over the center field wall for his tenth home run of the year to cut the Giants' lead to 8-2. Left fielder Andre Ethier's fly to deep left was caught by Bonds on the left field line for out number one, but catcher Russell Martin lined a single to right. Marlon Anderson batted for Kuo and struck out swinging for the second out.

That brought up shortstop Rafael Furcal, who hit Cain's 1-1 curveball over the right field wall for a two-run homer to establish our final score: Giants 8, Dodgers 4. It was Furcal's sixteenth home run of the year, and it bounced into McCovey Cove.

Final totals: Giants 8-15-2. Dodgers 4-8-0.

W- Cain (16-9)
L- Maddux (14-15)

HR- LAD: Furcal (16), Betemit (10)

DS- Saito (24)

LHR- SF: Niekro (2)

Cain was named Player of the Game. He pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out six. He threw 112 pitches, At the plate, he was one for two plus a walk with a run batted in,

Bonds was one for four plus a walk and scored twice. He's currently batting .265 (119-449) with thirty-six home runs and 103 runs batted in. He's walked 152 times.

Here are the current standings in the National League West:

Padres: 90-72
Dodgers: 88-74- 2 GB
Giants: 77-84- 12.5 GB
Diamondbacks: 76-86- 14 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 15 GB

Next: The Giants host the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, September 26, Brandon Webb will start for the Diamondbacks, while Matt Morris goes to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Tuesday at 8:09 PM

It's Tuesday, September 26, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Diamondbacks in the second game of a three-game series at AT&T Park, Brandon Webb will pitch for the Diamondbacks, while Matt Morris gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat third, as his replacement Todd Linden did in real life. The Giants won the original game, 4-2.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, center fielder Randy Winn led off with a double to right center. Omar Vizquel beat out a bouncer to second for an infield single to put runners at the corners, but Bonds flew to the Diamondbacks' Carlos Quentin in shallow right field for out number one. Giants right fielder Moises Alou forced Vizquel, which allowed Winn to score and give them a 1-0 lead. Ray Durham took a called third strike to end the inning,

In the third, Bonds struck out swinging.

In the sixth, he was called out on strikes.

In the eighth with the Diamondbacks leading 9-2, Vizquel beat out a grounder to short for another infield single.

Bonds was next, and he hit Webb's 1-2 fastball over the right field wall and into McCovey Cove on the fly for a two-run homer to cut the Arizona lead to 9-4. It was Bonds' first home run in his last eight simulated games. It was also his thirty-seventh home run of the year and undisputed career homer Number 848. He's now twenty home runs behind all-time leader Sadaharu Oh. The Giants now trailed 9-4.

Luis Vizcaino relieved Webb at this point; his first assignment was Alou, who lined his 0-1 changeup over the left field wall for a home run to make it a 9-5 game. It was his seventeenth homer of the year, and it established our final: Diamondbacks 9, Giants 5.

In the ninth, catcher Eliezer Alonzo stroked a leadoff single up the middle. Todd Linden batted for reliever Jonathan Sanchez and lined a single to right to put two men on, and Snakes manager Bob Melvin called on closer Jose Valverde to face Winn, who flew to his counterpart Eric Byrnes in shallow right center for out number one. Vizquel's liner was caught by D-Backs second baseman Craig Counsell for the second out, but Bonds was hit on the forearm by a Valverde fastball to load the bases. Alou came to the plate as the tying run, but Byrnes camped under his fly to right center and made the catch to end the game.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The D-Backs jumped on Morris with two runs in the top of the first. Second baseman Craig Counsell walked and moved to third on left fielder Luis Gonzalez's single to left center. Third baseman Chad Tracy took a called third strike for the second out, but first baseman Conor Jackson lined a double off the wall in left to score Counsell and Gonzalez and put the visitors in front 2-0. Shortstop Stephen Drew grounded to his counterpart Vizquel to end the inning.

The Diamondbacks led 2-1 after three and a half, but the Boys from the Bay tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Alou led off with a base hit to center. Durham's single to right center put runners at the corners, and Moises scored when first baseman Lance Niekro bounced into a 4-6-3 double play.

The Snakes took control for good with four runs in the top of the sixth. Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk, Tracy's fly to deep right center was caught by Winn for the first out, but Jackson's single to right center put runners at the corners. Drew was next, and he golfed a double over Alou's head in right. Gonzalez and Jackson scored, and the Snakes led 4-2.

That was all for Morris; Kevin Correia relieved him and faced Snakes right fielder Carlos Quentin, whose bloop fell in left center field and rolled into the power alley floe a double. Drew came home, and it was 5-2 Arizona. Catcher Chris Snyder's fly to left chased Bonds back to the warning track before he could make the catch, and Quentin moved to third easily. Webb brought him home with a single to left, and the D-Backs led 6-2. Byrnes' grounder to short ended the inning.

The visitors added three more runs in the top of the seventh. Counsell drew a leadoff walk, but Gonzalez grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Tracy hit a fly ball to right that should have been the third out, but it bounced out of Alou's glove; Tracy reached on the error. Jackson lined a double off the left field wall, which moved Tracy to third and brought Drew to the plate. Stephen ended Correia's evening by hitting his 1-1 curveball over the right center field wall for a three-run homer that gave the D-Backs a 9-2 lead. It was his sixth home run of the year.

Final totals: Diamondbacks 9-10-0, Giants 5-13-1.

W- Webb (16-8)
S- Valverde (19)
L- Morris (10-17)

HR- ARZ: Drew (6)
SF: Bonds (37), Alou (16)

Note: Alou also hit a home run in the actual game.

LHR- ARZ: Quentin (8)

Drew was named Player of the Game. He was two for five with two runs scored, a three-run homer, and five runs batted in. Honorable mention goes to Jackson, who was three for five with two runs scored and two runs batted in,

Bonds was one for four with a hit-by-pitch and a two-run homer. He's currently batting .265 (120-453) with thirty-seven home runs and 105 runs batted in.

Here are the updated standings in the National League West:

Padres: 90-72
Dodgers: 88-74- 2 GB
Diamondbacks: 77-85- 13 GB
Giants: 76-85- 13.5 GB
Rockies: 75-87- 15 GB

Next: Game 3 between the Diamondbacks and the Giants on Wednesday, September 27. Claudio Vargas will start for the Diamondbacks, while Jamey Wright goes to the mound for the Giants.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · 2024-05-01T20:04:02-0400

It's Wednesday, September 27, 2006, and the Giants are hosting the Diamondbacks in the third and final game of a three-game series at AT&T Park. Claudio Vargas will pitch for the Diamondbacks, while Jamey Wright gets the ball for the Giants. Bonds is in left field and will bat second, as his replacement Fred Lewis did in real life. The Diamondbacks won the actual game. 6-3.

Let's begin by examining Bonds' at-bats:

In the first, he took a called third strike.

In the fourth, he grounded to Conor Jackson at first.

In the sixth with one out, center fielder Randy Winn doubled to right. He moved to third on Bonds' grounder to first, but first baseman Shea Hillenbrand was called out on strikes to retire the side.

In the eighth with the D-Backs leading 8-4, Winn led off with a single to right. Bonds took another called third strike for out number one, and Hillenbrand flew to Chris Young in left center for out number two. Alou was next, and he bashed a triple off the top of the right field wall. Winn scored, and the Arizona lead was cut to 8-5. Moises scored on Ray Durham's single to left to make it 8-6, and Pedro Feliz made it three straight hits with a single to right. Runners were at first and second for catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, but his shallow fly to left was caught by the Snakes' Eric Byrnes to retire the side.

Now let's look at the rest of the game action:

The D-Backs opened the scoring in the top of the second. Byrnes led off with a double to left center. He moved to third on catcher Johnny Estrada's grounder to first and stayed there on right fielder Carlos Quentin's comebacker to the mound. A walk to shortstop Stephen Drew put runners at the corners and brought up third baseman Damion Easley, who hit Wright's 1-1 hanging slider over the wall in right center for a three-run homer and a 3-0 Snakes lead. It was Easley's tenth home run of the year,

The visitors added to their lead with two runs in the top of the third. Young led off by beating out a bouncer to third for an infield single, but he was forced by second baseman Orlando Hudson. Jackson's double over Winn's head in center cashed in Young to make it 4-0 D-Backs. Byrnes flew to Bonds in left for the second out, but Estrada's lined single to right center brought Jackson home. After two and a half, it was Arizona 5, San Francisco 0.

The Giants hit the board for the first time in the bottom of the third. Alfonzo led off by hitting Vargas's 1-1 curveball into the second row in left center field for a home run, his eleventh of the year, to cut the Diamondbacks' lead to 5-1. The ball traveled an estimated 387 feet; left center field at AT&T Park is 364 feet from home plate.

The D-Backs got that run back in the top of the sixth. Drew lined a leadoff double into the right center power alley and moved to third on Easley's fly to left. Vargas was next, and he lined a base hit to left center that brought Drew home and gave the D-Backs a 6-1 lead.

The Giants made a big dent in the Arizona lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Alou led off with a base hit to left, and Durham lined a single to left center that put two men on. Feliz struck out swinging for the first out, and Alfonzo took a called third strike for out number two. That brought up shortstop Kevin Frandsen, who lined Vargas's 1-1 curveball over the wall in left center for a three-run homer, his second of the year. The Boys from the Bay trailed 6-4 after seven,

The visitors answered with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Drew lined a leadoff single to left, and Easley followed by swatting reliever Jonathan Sanchez's first-pitch fastball over the right center field wall for a two-run homer, his eleventh of the year, to extend the D-Backs' lead to 8-4.

Final totals: Diamondbacks 8-11-0, Giants 6-10-0.

L- Wright (6-12)

HR- ARZ: Easley 2 (11)
SF: Alfonzo (11), Frandsen (2)

Note Alfonzo also hit a home run in the actual game.

DL- Sanchez (2-0)

LHR- ARZ: Byrnes (25)

Easley was named Player of the Game. He was two for five plus a walk with two home runs and five runs batted in.

Bonds was hitless in four at-bats. He's currently batting .263 (120-457) with thirty-seven home runs and 105 runs batted in.

Next: The Giants travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers at Miller Park on Sunday, September 24. Matt Cain will start for the Giants, while Ben Sheets takes the mound for the Brewers.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · 2024-05-02T17:57:54-0400

It's Sunday, September 24, 2006, and the Giants are taking on the Brewers in the final game of a four-game series at Miller Park, Matt Cain starts for the Giants, while Ben Sheets gets the ball for the Brewers. Bonds is in left field and will bat fifth, as his replacement Todd Linden did in real life. The Brewers won the actual game, 5-3.

King of the World: Barry Bonds Chases Sadaharu Oh

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