Pirates lose 5-4 to Mets

The Pirates blew another good start by Ian Snell who pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, he struck out 7. Salomon Torres(1-4) came in for the 8th inning with the score tied at 3-3 and couldnt get an out and allowed a single to David Wright and a double to Carlos Beltran before being pulled for Damaso Marte who walked Carlos Delgado to load the bases. Marte was then pulled for Shawn Chacon who allowed a 2-run RBI to Moises Alou(25). Both runs were charged to Torres(5.53 ERA). The Pirates did add a run in the bottom of the 8th but it wasnt enough as they lost 5-4 to Mets. Jorge Sosa(9-6) got the win for the Mets. Billy Wagner got his 27th save. Carlos Beltran(21) hit a home run for the Mets while Nate McClouth(6) had one for the Bucs. The Pirates are now 49-68.

Pirates split make-up doubleheader with Giants

Game 1

Pirates win 3-1 over Giants. Paul Maholm(8-14) pitched a 3-hitter complete game only giving up 1 run. Former-Pirate Rajai davis,, who has seen a lot of playing time with the Giants doubled home Dan Ortmeier in the 3rd and that was all the Giants got. Maholm did not walk a batter, not even Barry Bonds who was 1 for 3 with a single. Jose Castillo singled home 2 runs in the first for the winning runs.

Game 2

Pirates lose 10-3 to Giants. The Giants sent their best pitcher to the mound and he got the win for them. Noah Lowry(13-7) went 7 innings and gave 2 runs on 6 hits, while walking 5. Shane Youman(2-4) pitched well until the 6th inning when he gave up a grand slam to Ryan Klesko(6). Jose Bautista(8), Xavier Nady(15), and Josh Phelps(5) all hit solo homers. The loss stopped the Pirates 4 game win streak, they are now 49-67.

Pirates Sweep Giants, win 5-0 in San Fran

Tom Gorzelanny pitched all nine innings getting the complete-game shutout, his first. He is now 11-6 and the lone bright spot on the Pirates pitching staff, he also got his ERA down to 3.29, he only allowed 5 hits in Sunday's 5-0 Pirates win. Barry Zito(8-11) got the loss for the Giants, he pitched 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. Josh Phelps was the star at the plate hitting a two-run home run(4) in the 6th, then hitting a 2 RBI triple(1) in the 7th. He was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI's(20). The Bucs are now (48-66) and go home to play a make-up double-header with the Giants in Pittsburgh Monday befor taking on the New York Mets Tuesday. Both games of the doubleheader with the Giants are make-up games.

Pirates crush Giants 13-3 in San Fran

The Bucs won their second game in a row in San Francisco Saturday afternoon 13-3. Freddy Sanchez had a huge game going 4 for 5 with a home run(7) a double(29) and 5 RBI's(48). The Bucs started their offensive explosion in the 4th inning as Freddy Sanchez hit his 2 run homer, then in the next at-bat Adam LaRoche(17) hit a solo homer. Ryan Doumit than hit his 2nd triple(2) in as many days and scored on a Jose Castillo groundout. Tony Armas then doubled in Castillo for the 5 run inning that would be plenty for the win. Armas got the win(2-3) going 6 innings and giving up 3 runs. Adam LaRoche ended up with 3 RBI's(65). Super phenom Ryan Lincecum(6-3) got the loss in a rare bad performance for the highly touted rookie. Randy Winn(7) hit a home run for the Giants. The Bucs are now 47-66.

Pirates come back to beat Giants 8-7

The Pirates had a huge 6 run inning in the 8th to beat the Giants in San Francisco Friday night. Barry Bonds did hit his 758th home run(24) in the third inning off starter Matt Morris who got a no decision after pitching 6 innings and giving up 5 runs. The Pirates entered the 8th down 6-2 to the Giants but the Pirates played small ball and had the 6 run inning to get the 8-6 lead. Ryan Doumit was 3 for 5 with a double(19) and a triple(1) and 1 RBI(32). Adam LaRoche hit a solo homer(16) in the 4th inning. John Grabow(2-1) picked up the win. Matt Capps got his 10th save. Barry Bonds ended up 1 for 1 with the HR and 3 RBI's(56), the Bucs walked him twice. The Bucs are now 46-66

Pirates lose 4-2 to D-Backs

The Pirates grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning off a 2-run homer from Jason Bay(18 HR, 73 RBI) but couldnt hold on or get any more runs, losing to the Diamondbacks 4-2 in Arizona. Ian Snell started the game and actually pitched well for a change, going 6 innings and leaving the game with the score 2-2. Shawn Chacon(4-3) got the loss giving up a RBI single to Orlando Hudson in the 7th inning. Tony Clark(11) added a home run off Damaso Marte to give the D-Backs an insurance run they wouldnt need. Bright spot for the Pirates was Freddy Sanchez who went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles(28) and a walk. Sanchez now has a .302 average at the plate. D-Backs starter Doug Davis(9-10) picked up the win going 7 innings and giving up the 2 run homer to Bay, he only allowed 5 hits. Jose Valverde picked up his 35th save for the red-hot D-backs who are now 65-51 and have a 3 game lead on the Padres in the NL West. The Pirates are 45-66 and are 13 games back of Milwaukee who hold a half game over Chicago in the NL "Spooky" Central.

Pirates lose 10-6 to Arizona.

The Pirates lost 10-6 to the D-Backs Wednesday night. Paul Maholm(7-14) picked up the loss for the Bucs, he went 5 innings giving up 6 runs on 7 hits although only 4 runs were earned. Edgar Gonzalez(5-2) picked up the win. Nate McClouth(5) hit a solo homer in the 3rd inning, the Bucs are now 45-65

Gorzo gets 10th Win as Bucs win 8-3 over D-Backs

The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first game of a 3-game series with the RED HOT Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 Tuesday Night in Arizona. Tom Gorzelanny(10-6) picked up the win, pitching 7 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on only 4 hits. The only guy Gorzo couldnt seem to get out was rookie Justin Upton who homered(1), tripled(1) and doubled(3) off Gorzelanny, he had 3 of the 4 hits Gorzo allowed and scored both runs. Jack Wilson was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles(18) and a RBI(33). Orlando Hudson(10) also hit a home run off of Salomon Torres in the 8th inning. The Pirates are now 45-64.

Commisioner's Statement on Barry Bonds

Commissioner's statement on Bonds breaking home run record

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig issued the following statement tonight after Barry Bonds set the career home run record:
"I congratulate Barry Bonds for establishing a new career home run record. Barry's achievement is noteworthy and remarkable.

"After Barry came out of the game, I congratulated him by telephone and had MLB executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson -- both of whom were at the game and witnessed the record-breaking home run -- meet with him on my behalf. While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement."

Bonds Hits #756

Bonds Makes History With 756th Home Run
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds raised both arms over his head like a prize fighter in victory, fists clenched _ and then he took off. It was over at long last. Like him or not, legitimate or not, he is baseball's new home run king.

Bonds hit No. 756 to the deepest part of the ballpark Tuesday night, and hammered home that very point. He broke Hank Aaron's storied record with one out in the fifth inning, hitting a full-count, 84 mph fastball from Washington's Mike Bacsik.

Bonds sent the ball arcing high into the night, 435 feet into the right-center field seats. Later, he firmly and flatly rejected any suggestion that this milestone was stained by steroids.

"This record is not tainted at all. At all. Period," Bonds said.

Conspicuous by their absence were the commissioner and Hammerin' Hank himself.

Though he was on hand for the tying homer three days ago, deciding to put baseball history ahead of the suspicions plaguing the Giants slugger, Bud Selig wasn't there for the record-breaker.

Instead, he sent two emissaries, Major League Baseball executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.

As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his 33-year-old mark was broken. He was true to his word, but he did offer a taped message of congratulations that played on the stadium's video board during a 10-minute, in-game tribute.

"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination," he said.

"Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.

"My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams," he said.

A woman who answered the phone at Aaron's home in Georgia shortly after Bonds' homer said that Aaron was asleep.

"When I saw Hank Aaron that made everything," Bonds said. "We've always loved him. He's always the home run king."

With a long, satisfied stare, Bonds watched as the ball sailed over the fence and disappeared into the scrum in the first few rows. Then he raised both arms over his head like a victorious prize fighter, fists clenched, and took off.

"I knew I hit it," Bonds said. "I knew I got it. I was like, phew, finally."

His 17-year-old batboy son Nikolai was already bouncing on home plate as Dad rounded third and ran the final 90 feet to make it official. After a long embrace, the rest of the family joined in _ his mother, two daughters and wife. And then there was Willie Mays, who removed his cap and congratulated his godson.

Bonds saved his most poignant words for last, addressing his late father, Bobby.

"My dad," he said, looking to the sky and choking back tears. "Thank you."

Bonds had wanted to break the record at home, where he would be assured of a friendly crowd. They were all right, unlike in San Diego where some fans held up signs with asterisks.

Bonds has always denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

After doubling and singling his first two times up, Bonds hit a solo home run. Bacsik put his left hand to the back of his head as soon as Bonds connected.

"I dreamed about it as a kid, but when I dreamed about it, I was the one hitting the home run and not giving it up," Bacsik said.

"I didn't really want to be part of history as a bad part, but I am," he said. "I'm OK with it."

Bacsik later spoke with Bonds and got an autographed a bat from the Giants star.

Bonds took his position in left field to start the sixth, then was replaced and drew another standing ovation. The Nationals won the game, 8-6.

A fan wearing a Mets jersey wound up with the historic ball. Matt Murphy of New York emerged from the stands with the souvenir and a bloodied face, and was whisked to a secure room.

Even with Bonds at the top of the chart, fans will surely keep debating which slugger they consider the true home run champion. Some will continue to cling to Aaron while other, older rooters will always say it's Babe Ruth.

"It's all about history. Pretty soon, someone will come along and pass him," Mays said before the game.

Aaron held the top spot for 12,173 days after connecting for No. 715 to pass the Babe on April 8, 1974.

Bonds homered exactly three years after Greg Maddux earned his 300th victory at the same ballpark. It's been quite a week of baseball milestones _ over the weekend, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run and Tom Glavine won No. 300.

A seven-time NL MVP, the 43-year-old Bonds hit his 22nd home run of the year. Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001 and while he's no longer such a force, opposing pitchers remain wary.

Bonds and Giants management bickered in the offseason over contract issues. This big night was the main reason owner Peter Magowan brought back the star left fielder for a 15th season in San Francisco, signing him to a $15.8 million, one-year contract.

Bonds' once-rapid quest for the record had slowed in recent years as his age and balky knees diminished his pace. He hit 258 home runs from 2000-04, but has only 53 since then.

While steroids have tinged Bonds' pursuit, it was race that was the predominant issue when Aaron broke Ruth's mark in 1974. Aaron dealt with hate mail and death threats from racist fans who thought a black man was not worthy of breaking the record set by a white hero, the beloved Babe.

Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn watched Aaron tie the record but was not present for the record-breaker, a slight that bothered many fans of Aaron. Selig is a close friend of Aaron's and offered Bonds tepid congratulations when he tied the record.

"I think Hank is his own man," Mays said. "I think if he wanted to be here he would be here."

"When he hit 715, the commissioner wasn't there," he said. "You may not blame him because he wasn't represented the right way."

Bonds was destined for stardom at an early age. The son of All-Star outfielder Bobby Bonds and the godson of one of the game's greatest players, Bonds spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse at Candlestick Park, getting tips from Mays and other Giants.

"I visualized him playing sports at a high level. He was 5 when he was in my locker all the time," Mays said.

In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter with Pittsburgh in 1986 to a bulked-up slugger. That transformation is at the heart of his many doubters, who believe Bonds cheated to accomplish his feats and should not be considered the record-holder.

There are plenty of fans already hoping for the day that Bonds' total _ whatever it ends up _ is topped. Alex Rodriguez may have the best chance, with his 500 home runs at age 32 far ahead of Bonds' pace.

Steelers look good in HOF game, win 20-7 over Saints

The Steelers looked great in Sunday's Hall of Fame game, Ben Roethlisberger only played one series but made the most of it, leading the Steelers right down the field for a touchdown. The big play was a play-action pass to Cedrick Wilson for 55 yards. He was 2 for 3 with 73 yards, all 73 yards went to Cedrick Wilson who caught 4 passes for 99 yards in the game. Najeh Davenport finished the drive off with a TD run from 3 yards out. Santonio Holmes also caught a TD pass in the game. The Steelers amassed 173 yards rushing and passed for 253 yards. The Steelers defense held the Saints to 214 yards. The team looked great and it seems Tomlin's tough training camp is paying off as the Steelers looked like the physically superior team the whole night. Jeff Reed was 2 for 3 on field goals.

Tom Glavine gets Win #300

Glavine joins 300 club vs. Cubs
Mets left-hander picks up historic win in Wrigley finale
By Marty Noble / MLB.com


CHICAGO -- One of the clubhouse attendants in Wrigley Field approached Tom Glavine on Sunday as a special evening was winding down and extended a hand with two baseballs. Glavine knew the drill. He signed on the sweet spots as he had done countless times. But he also knew he now was free to add a PS.
So under his signature -- which had become significantly more valuable 75 minutes earlier, Glavine added to the inscriptions. For the first times ever, he wrote 300 under his name. And, oh, how he liked the way that looked.

Now that three-digit figure is almost part of his name, like HOF is likely to become in five or six years. With a performance that reinforced his image as a brilliant pitcher, an intense competitor and a pretty competent batsman, Glavine forever changed his baseball identity Sunday night. No longer is he merely the two-time Cy Young Award winner or the five-time 20-game winner or the savvy left-hander who ...

Now, first, foremost and forever, Glavine is a 300-game winner. With a HOF chaser on order.

A comprehensive, Glavine-esque six-plus innings against the Cubs not only affected the change in ID, but also was the primary fuel in the Mets' less historic, less-than-artistic, 8-3 victory. On a night that established big-league record for sticky, Glavine persevered through heat and self-induced tension and against his 41 years and became the 23rd pitcher to reach 300, the fifth of the left-handed persuasion, the fourth with a strong Braves connection and the first to do so wearing a Mets uniform.

Even before the autograph request, he had given a signature performance, as if he has been asked to demonstrate how he had come to accumulate 299 victories. Glavine pitched well and he has used his head and his bat to enhance his chance. What else could he have done to make his 300th victory more representative of his body of work? "I guess I could have gotten out of bases-loaded jam by throwing a changeup away," he said.

But the Cubs hadn't offered that much resistance during Glavine's 6 1/3 innings, only six hits and a walk. They scored once before he departed, again immediately after Guillermo Mota replaced him and again when Pedro Feliciano allowed Mota's baserunner to score. But most to the subsequent sweating he and the Mets did was the result of the North Side sauna that enveloped Wrigleyville and made the conditions closer than the score.

"It was typical Tommy," Willie Randolph said in the dugout afterwards as the Mets toasted their most accomplished player in the clubhouse and a surprisingly large contingent of Mets fans gathered behind the visiting dugout and chanted "Tom-mee Gla-vine, Tom-mee Gla-vine."

"I was very touched by that," Glavine said. "And by the way I was received by the Cubs fans. I think their applause was a show of respect. And we all want to be respected."

Winning for the 300th time prompted a telephone call from Bud Selig and Fred Wilpon and hundreds of hugs and handshakes. But it didn't cause a spike in respect for Glavine. The game already had embraced him. The round number didn't make any more special.

Which is not to suggest he didn't want it. He wouldn't have fretted some of the night and most of the day if it hadn't been important to him. He wouldn't have said, "I know the company I'm in now and I'm as proud as I can be to be among them" if he had been unaware of the significance of his accomplishment.

He is the 23rd, he might be the last.

"I'm not saying I will be or that I want to be the last one," he said. "But it would be kinda cool."

With family, parents, former teammates, bosses and doctors, friends and all around him, Glavine barely had the opportunity to savor the achievement. His teammates savored for him. The Dom Perignon was opened and sipped. None of it was sprayed or spilled. "That's for October," Paul Lo Duca said.

After Glavine thanked his teammates for "putting up with all this," he reminded them of the unfinished business lingering since last fall. He may not play again next season -- his part of in baseball's unscheduled Milestone Weekend makes it less likely he will pitch beyond 2007. "But I'd like to keep pitching for a long time this year," he said.

"You mean there's more?" Billy Wagner said. "Now we have to go through 301?"

Wagner had produced the final three outs. The day he signed with Mets he said he hoped to save Glavine's 300th victory. But the margin for error the Mets produced by scoring twice in the eighth inning and once in the ninth eliminated the save opportunity. "I'm kind of glad it did," Glavine said.

He remained in the dugout to watch the Mets achieve the eight outs he left them. As Wagner faced four batters, Glavine's flawed poker face began to crack. "I was so happy to be getting this. It is a relief. At some point, I'm not sure when, the accomplishment part of it will take over. But right now, it's mostly relief."

The game had its uneasy moments even though the Mets scored the first five runs, against Jason Marquis, Glavine's former Braves teammate. The Mets' bullpen, which squandered a lead against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Tuesday and denied Glavine his milestone, put the victory in jeopardy again on Sunday. He acknowledged experiencing a "Oh, no. Not again" moment.

Glavine had batted in the seventh, adding a sacrifice bunt to a one-night resume that already included a run-scoring single, a walk and a ground ball that advanced a runner. And he faced two batters in the seventh, retiring one before a double by Angel Pagan prompted his removal.

Then it got antsy. But when Aaron Heilman replaced Felicano and closed out the seventh, even Glavine's nervous wife, Chris, sat back in here seat.

"This one wasn't getting away," Lo Duca said. "He knew that we let him down in Milwaukee. But we just played better tonight to make sure that wouldn't happen again."

Lo Duca had argued his way into the lineup after missing five games. He and Carlos Delgado, who had four RBIs, produced the two runs in the eighth. Delgado drove in another in the ninth. But the RBI of the night was Glavine's. He singled through the middle in he second to score Lastings Milledge with the first run.

"We were like, 'Go do it, drive in all the runs and pitch a one-hit shutout. ... This is your night,'" Lo Duca said.

"I think he was just afraid we would get him more than two runs, like the other night in Milwaukee," David Wright said. "But we put together some hits for him ... just because we like him and respect him."

The Mets gushed as they hailed their man. They didn't even get on him for delaying the bus, it's always been Glavine who pushes for prompt departures. But the celebration took time.

When it was over, players donned Mets blue T-shirts clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels had ordered for the occasion. An orange "300" and a silhouette of Glavine pitching were on the chest.

Always-dapper El Duque stepped from relative comfort of the Mets clubhouse into the stifling, wearing the shirt under a blazer and over a dress shirt. It went with nothing else he was wearing. But Orlando Hernandez was pleased with his layered look.

"Proud to wear it," he said. "I'm proud to wear a Tom Glavine shirt."

My misery ends today

The misery of watching the Pirates ends tonight as the Steelers get ready to kick it off in the Hall of Fame Game at 8pm tonight against the New Orleans Saints. Lets go Steelers, and good luck Coach Tomlin.

Pirates rained out Sunday

The Pirates game was rained out in Pittsburgh today against the Reds, they hit the road now to take on the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks(62-50). The D-Backs have won 12 of their last 14 games while the Pirates have lost 16 of their last 20. The series will begin on Tuesday at 9:40pm(EST).

Bucs blow lead, lose 9-8 in 10 innings to Reds

Matt Morris made his Pirate debut Saturday and he pitched pretty well going 6.1 innings giving up 4 earned runs(5 total) on 9 hits leaving the game in position for the win but the bullpen let the Reds tie it up and eventually win the game. Matt Morris even got into the act in a game that had 8 home runs, 5 by the Pirates. Matt Capps(BS, 4-5) was the main goat of this game. He came in to pitch the 9th with a 7-6 lead but pinch-hitter Jeff Keppinger(2) led off the inning with a solo homer to tie it up, Capps got out of the inning without giving up another run. After the Pirates failed to score in the 9th, he started the 10 inning off by giving up a single to Brandon Phillips then Adam Dunn hit his 30th home run of the year to make it 9-7. Jack Wilson(6) added a solo homer in the 10th but it wasnt enough as the Pirates lost 9-8. Jason Bay(17), Matt Morris(1), Nate McClouth(4), Ronny Paulino(8), and Wilson(6) hit home runs for the Bucs. Edwin Encarnacion(8), Keppinger(2), and Dunn(30) hit dingers for the Reds. The Bucs are once again 20 games under .500 at 44-64.

Bonds ties Aaron

Hammered: Bonds ties Aaron with 755
Slugger matches all-time homer record with shot off Hensley
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- Barry Bonds has now gone where only one man has been before him: to home run No. 755.
With his second-inning leadoff shot to left field against Padres right-hander Clay Hensley on Saturday night at PETCO Park, Bonds tied Aaron's cherished Major League Baseball career-best home run mark, and after the next one, he will be all alone in first place on the all-time list.

The homer, his 21st of the season and first in six games (28 plate appearances), ended Aaron's more than 33-year reign as MLB's home run king and came with Commissioner Bud Selig in attendance as part of a sellout crowd.

"This has been a real tough situation. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through in my entire career," Bonds said long after the Giants dropped a 3-2 decision to the Padres in 12 innings. "It's a different feeling than any of the other [milestones]. I'm really lost for words at this moment. I think when I sit back and can grasp all of this I'll be able to say a little more a little later. But I'm still in a daze myself right now."

As a member of the Braves, Aaron passed Babe Ruth into first place with his 715th homer on April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, where the Braves began to play when they moved from Milwaukee after the 1965 season. It came in the fourth inning off Dodgers left-hander Al Downing.

Selig, the former owner of the Brewers, was a fan of the then-Milwaukee Braves in Aaron's early years. After the hard-fought-for 715th homer, coming at a time when overt racism plagued Aaron's chase of Ruth, Selig utilized Aaron as the Brewers' designated hitter for the last two years of his career.

Selig was stoic Saturday night as he attended his 10th game during the current chase and finally saw his first Bonds homer, declining to talk to reporters. Instead he released a statement congratulating Bonds for his feat.

"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," said Selig, who planned to be at the ballpark for Sunday's game.

Bonds said emphatically he will not play in the series finale, saying instead that he wanted to "celebrate with his family." Then it will be on to San Francisco on Monday night, where Bonds will have numerous cracks at the record during a seven-game homestand against the Nationals and the Pirates.

Selig doesn't expect to be in attendance for games there on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights because he needs to be in New York and Milwaukee to tend to other baseball business. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, an advisor for Major League Baseball, is slated to be there in his stead.

Bonds, who had started nine consecutive games, said he can begin to relax a little bit now.

"The hardest part is over," he said. "That was the hardest one."

It was Bonds' first off Hensley, who became the 445th pitcher to allow at least one homer to Bonds in his 22-year career. It was also his fourth at PETCO Park and 87th against the Padres, far and away his most against an opposing club.

For those who wondered what the scene would be like if Bonds hit one of his big ones on the road, as soon as it hit the electronic advertising board at the edge of the second deck in left field 382 feet away, the partisan Padres fans began a long ovation.

"I want to thank the San Diego fans. I thought that was outstanding," said Bonds, who was walked the other three times he came to the plate, mostly to derisive jeers aimed at the Padres pitchers. "It's been a fun ride. I mean, I really don't know what to say about the way San Diego handled it and the way their fans handled it."

Bonds, who had taken a half-hour of early batting practice long before the game Saturday, was joyous as he reached the plate, giving a huge bear hug to his teenage son, Nikolai, who has been there for almost all his recent milestone homers, albeit at earlier stages of growth.

Bonds was then mobbed by his teammates as he strode back to the Giants third-base-side dugout. And just to punctuate the amazing moment, the fans gave him another ovation as he went back out to left field after the half-inning, Bonds doffing his cap in appreciation.

The ball was retrieved in Section 130, Row 1, Seat 18 by a man identified during the game as Adam Hughes, 33, from La Jolla, Calif.

"I saw it hit above me," Hughes said. "It came down and was on the ground. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I think [Bonds reaching 755] is quite an accomplishment for one man."

Once Alex Rodriguez had hit his 500th homer earlier in the day at Yankee Stadium, Bonds became serious. He had said, half in jest on Friday night, that he was waiting for A-Rod to reach his milestone before Bonds at least tied Aaron, which he did on a 2-1 fastball up and out of the strike zone from Hensley.

"I obviously wasn't trying to leave the pitch up," Hensley said. "But he hit a fastball that was up. It was actually off the plate, really off the plate, but it was high and it was up, and he went with the pitch."

Hours earlier, with no fans and just a smattering of reporters in the ballpark, Bonds emerged from the clubhouse to take early BP with Giants manager Bruce Bochy doing most of the pitching. Bonds took 11 rounds and 113 swings, hitting 17 bolts all over the nearly four-year-old ballpark.

Bonds said he was just trying to get away from the fans, away from the media and back to basics.

His first thought as he was rounding the bases upon hitting the homer at 7:29 p.m. PT?

"I finally did something mechanically right," said Bonds, who just turned 43 on July 24.

Bonds' career has been speckled by seasons of greatness, as his seven National League MVP awards attest. He also holds the single-season record for most homers with 73 in 2001.

Aaron did it with consistency, never hitting more than 47 homers in a single season -- and he did that in 1971. But his overall numbers were outstanding. He's the only player in history to amass more than 700 homers, 3,000 base hits and 2,000 RBIs.

Aaron's 2,297 RBIs are also baseball's all-time best and his 3,771 hits are third behind Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,189).

Aaron was also a .305 lifetime hitter for his 23-year career, which began in Milwaukee with the Braves in 1954 and ended there with the Brewers in 1976. He played his final two seasons as a designated hitter in the American League and his last homer was hit at Milwaukee County Stadium on July 20 of that year.

Aaron was a 25-time All-Star, including the two games that were played each summer from 1959 to 1962, won two National League batting titles and led the league in homers and RBIs four times.

He was the NL MVP only once (in 1957, the year his Braves defeated the Yankees in the World Series for Milwaukee's only baseball championship) as compared to seven for Bonds, who needs 88 hits to reach 3,000 and 20 RBIs to hit the 2,000 mark.

Aaron was inducted in the Hall of Fame along with Robinson in 1982.

Though Aaron wasn't in attendance Saturday night and won't be in the days ahead as Bonds surpasses his record, the greatest left-handed home run hitter in Major League history had nothing except praise for him.

"We as baseball players, especially African-American baseball players, have so much respect for Hank Aaron," Bonds said. "He helped pave the road for what we're doing now. No one at any time, shape or form will ever get me to say anything different about Hank Aaron and what a great person he is and what a great athlete he is and how we as players all admire him."

ARod becomes youngest to 500 Home Runs ever

A-Rod belts historic 500th homer
Yanks slugger becomes 22nd member of prestigious club
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com


NEW YORK -- By the time Alex Rodriguez's already-illustrious career reaches its conclusion, his 500th home run will likely be but a memorable milestone, a stop-off on the way to an ultimate destination.
Rodriguez completed his ascension to become the 22nd member of baseball's 500-homer club on Saturday, slugging the first pitch he saw from the Royals' Kyle Davies into the left-field seats for a three-run homer.

For Rodriguez, the conclusion of his personal chase for 500 came with equal parts celebration and relief. He had waited eight days and 28 at-bats for the envisioned achievement to become reality, with sellout crowds all week begging Rodriguez -- the Major League leader in home runs and RBIs -- to pump one more ball out of Yankee Stadium.

"The energy of the fans just put it in perspective a little bit," Rodriguez said. "It seemed like they cared more about it than I did. For me, I wanted to do it at home. I knew it would come at some point this year, but with two days remaining before we go on the road, I wanted to make sure we did it at home."

With expectations following each plate appearance since hitting No. 499 on July 25 at Kansas City, Rodriguez admitted he had tried to will himself to just slug one more, a task that proved more difficult than anticipated in the five or so games he tried it.

Instead, Rodriguez reached his plateau the same way he'd worked there -- naturally. Focusing on his regular swing and simply trying to hit the ball hard, Rodriguez accomplished his goal and learned a little something in the process.

"I've conceded the fact that you can't will yourself to hit a home run. I tried hard for about five days," Rodriguez said, drawing laughter throughout a small room in the bowels of the ballpark.

The first pitch from Davies met the criteria for a tight swing, as Rodriguez clubbed a high, arcing shot down the left-field line. In the Yankees' dugout, Joe Torre instantly told bench coach Don Mattingly, "That's it!", but Rodriguez wasn't quite so convinced -- pausing at home plate, Rodriguez angled his neck, expecting to see the ball tail to the left of the yellow foul pole, like some errant golf shot rifling off toward the woods.

"I hadn't hit one in so long, I didn't know if it was going to be foul or fair," Rodriguez said. "I definitely thought, because I've been hooking the ball a little bit, where that ball started -- last week, that ball probably would have hooked foul about 20 feet."

It did not, soaring into the sky before falling into a pack of frenzied Yankees fans. Rodriguez raised his hands in the air, accepting congratulations from first-base coach Tony Pena before clapping and grinning as he rounded the bases, a deafening roar filling the stadium while, in the stadium audio booth, the theme from "The Natural" was cued.

"It was great," Torre said. "He stood there and watched it, and we all did. You just felt it was coming, once he started burying himself in the games, you just had a sense he was having a lot better at-bats. It was great to get it out of the way."

After his trot, A-Rod was greeted first at home plate by Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, both on board for the historic blast. The entire Yankees roster followed suit, a random assemblage having spilled out of the dugout and onto the grass in celebration.

Embraced by his teammates, Rodriguez waved and blew a kiss to the roaring Yankee Stadium crowd -- for his wife, Cynthia, it turned out, who had missed the home run but witnessed his trot -- and pumped his fists while accepting the warm wishes of yet another Bronx curtain call.

Finally, taking a seat on the dugout bench next to Jeter, an expression of sudden relaxation appeared to wash over Rodriguez's face. Mission accomplished.

"I think there was a lot of relief," said teammate Johnny Damon. "The changing of the balls with the umpires, and the 3-1 sliders, and all those tough pitches. The pitchers did a great job, and I'm glad he got to jump on the first pitch he saw today. He had tremendous backspin on it. He didn't hit it as well as he could, but he just got enough."

Indeed, consider this chapter closed -- at least, until 600.

How realistic is that? With Rodriguez having become the youngest player to reach the 500-homer milestone, doing so at 32 years, eight days and surpassing Jimmie Foxx's previous record (32 years, 338 days), the sky would appear to be his limit.

Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, is among those who believe that A-Rod will eventually earn a spot as baseball's all-time home run leader -- in fact, seven years ago, when Rodriguez was searching for a new home on the free-agent market, Boras authored a noted leather-bound book projecting where Rodriguez would individually head over the length of his future contracts.

Then, Rodriguez was envisioned in print as surpassing Henry Aaron's 755 home runs. Surely, any future version will need revision to include Barry Bonds' eventual total.

"Back when he was in Seattle and he came to the big leagues at such a young age, we started fiddling with this," Boras said. "All of a sudden, he started getting home runs in the 40s in his early 20s. It's something most players don't get, so we knew he was a precocious player.

"The key thing is, he's not a traditional power hitter body type. He's not the power hitter that carries the bulk, so the ligaments, tendons, the athleticism remains. When you're looking at the 600-and-over club now, those are all outfielders. When you look at a guy who's done it on the dirt, that type of athlete, that's where the physicality and strength conditioning lock in."

Kicking at the dirt of the mound while the game awaited resumption, Davies -- who lasted just three innings against the Yankees' burgeoning offense -- was less than pleased with his place in history, spoiling his own Royals and American League debut after being shuttled in via trade from Atlanta.

"I was trying to get a double play, a sinker down and in, and the ball came back over the middle a little bit," Davies said. "It's probably not the right pitch to him. We talked about it after the inning and maybe go up a little bit more and try to jam him. But with that ball down like that, he can get extended and that's what he did."

The celebration of the chase created external pressure for Rodriguez, who spoke critically about the continued procession of specially marked baseballs dumped into umpires' pockets before his at-bats, and the oceans of flashbulbs that lit stadiums during each pitch of his night plate appearances. At the least, they were a minor annoyance; more likely, a significant distraction.

It may have all seemed worth it when, after the Yankees' 16-8 slugfest victory over the Royals, Rodriguez picked up a clubhouse phone and accepted well-wishes from Commissioner Bud Selig, just minutes after joining a congratulatory conference call with owner George Steinbrenner, his sons Hank and Hal, plus team president Randy Levine.

"It was brief," Rodriguez said of his conversation with Steinbrenner. "It was nice. It was very nice. He was happy -- happy about the win and the 500th, and proud I did it as a Yankee."

Rodriguez became just the third player to hit his 500th home run in a Yankees uniform, joining Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle -- a fact he said he had only learned recently. Asked what it means to him, Rodriguez quickly replied, "It means the world."

"To do it at home and to wear this beautiful uniform that I appreciate and respect so much, it's special," Rodriguez said. "New York is a special place. I've had my trials and tribulations here in New York, I've learned from them. I've had some great times, I've had some good times and I've had some tough times.

"A day like today kind of brings it full circle. Maybe there's a happy ending for me somewhere."

Pirates crushed by Reds 13-4

The Pittsburgh Pirates got smoked by the Cincinatti Reds Friday night 13-4. Ian Snell took another loss(7-10) going 5 innings and giving up 6 earned runs on 10 hits. Adam Dunn(29), Ken Griffey Jr.(26), Alex Gonzalez(15), and Scott Hatteberg(9) all hit home runs off the Pirates' pitching, Ryan Doumit(9) hit one for the Bucs. The Bucs are now 44-63. New Pirate Matt Morris makes his Pirates debut tomorrow starting against the Reds.

Pirates win Thursday afternoon game 5-4 in 11 innings

The Pirates have pieced together back-to-back wins for the first time since before the All-Star break, winning 5-4 in 11 innings over the Cardinals Thursday afternoon. Jose Castillo singled home Ryan Doumit in the 11th inning with 2 outs for the win by the Pirates(44-62). Salomon Torres(1-3) picked up the win for his 2 scoreless innings. Brad Thompson(6-5) gave up the single to Castillo for the loss. Ronny Paulino hit another home-run(7) after his grand slam last night and Albert Pujols hit his 24th home run for the Cardinals(50-55).

Wow! Pirates beat Cardinals 15-1

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 15-1 last night in Pittsburgh. The Pirates got 7 runs off of Cards starter Braden Looper(8-9) in 4 innings including a first inning Grand Slam by Ronny Paulino(6 HR, 30 RBI). Adam LaRoche went 2 for 5 including a solo homer(15) off Looper in the 3rd, he also had 2 RBI's(59). Freddy Sanchez went 4 for 5(.297) with 1 RBI(39). Jason Bay was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's(69). Jack Wilson was also 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's(30) including a solo homer in the 6th inning. Jose Bautista was deactivated from the 15 day disabled list and got the start going 2 for 5 with 2 RBI's(35). The Pirates got 20 hits off of Cards pitching. Aaron Miles(1) hit a solo homer in the top of the 6th inning off of Tony Armas(1-3) who went 6.1 innings giving up the 1 run on 4 hits.The Pirates are now 43-62 and still the worst record in the National League. The Chicago Cubs have tied the slumping Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead in the NL Central.

Pirates lose 6-4 to Cardinals

The Pirates lost their 14th of 16th game since the All-Star break. Paul Maholm took the mound, he has been credited with those 2 wins since the All-Star break but as usual he got no run support and was credited with his 13th loss(7-13). He went 6 innings giving up 2 earned runs(3 runs total). Adam Wainwright(10-8) got the win for the Cards, he also went 6 innings and gave up 2 earned runs. Jason Isringhausen picked up his 21st save. Ronny Paulino drew the ire of the Pittsburgh crowd missing a pop fly that he seemed to not be able to find?? He also missed a throw ath the plate that would have prevented a run from scoring. Ryan Doumit his 8th home run. The Bucs have lost 4 straight and are now 20 games below .500(42-62)