Behind Smoltz, Braves Thwart Bonds and the Giants
John Smoltz got the best of Barry Bonds on Monday. (AI Wire photo)
On the eve of his 43rd birthday, Barry Bonds would have liked some fireworks. He didn’t get them and the San Francisco fans who came out to see history will have to wait to celebrate
John Smoltz silenced the sellout crowd eager to see another home run, keeping Bonds stuck at 753 in the Atlanta Braves’ 4-2 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park on Monday night.
Bonds returned from a seven-game trip two homers shy of tying Hank Aaron’s record of 755 but was 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. His eighth-inning single up the middle off Rafael Soriano was his first hit since connecting for two homers Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Commissioner Bud Selig was a no-show for Bonds’ welcome home party on a picture-perfect summer night in the Bay Area, where Bonds faced another one of Hammerin’ Hank’s former teams in the opener of a four-game series. The Giants took two of three in a weekend series at Milwaukee, where Aaron started and finished his career.
Brian McCann hit a three-run double in the first to stake Smoltz (10-5) to a quick lead. Smoltz has surrendered eight home runs to Bonds but none since giving up two on Aug. 9, 1998.
On this night, pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney received a curtain call - not Bonds, who reportedly failed an amphetamines test in 2006 and attributed it to something he took from Sweeney’s locker. Bonds issued a public apology that Sweeney became involved.
Sweeney’s pinch-hit double leading off the seventh tied Bonds with Manny Mota for second place with 150 pinch hits, trailing only Lenny Harris (212).
The Braves paid -123 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $123 would net a $100 profit).
In other games in the National League on Monday:
Los Angeles Dodgers 10, Houston 2: Chad Billingsley threw a five-hitter for his first complete game, and Jeff Kent had four hits and a pair of RBIs to lead the Dodgers, -119 favorites on the road. Luis Gonzalez and James Loney had three RBI seach for the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Cinicinnati 2, Milwaukee 1: Aaron Harang returned from his grandfather’s funeral and pitched 10 innings, setting up the host Reds for a 12-inning victory. Cincinnati was a -131 favorite. Despite his grandfather’s passing, Harang pitched on schedule because he figured it was a fitting tribute.
Colorado 7, San Diego 5: Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe delivered their best shots as the Rockies rallied from a three-run eighth-inning deficit against San Diego’s stellar bullpen to beat the Padres in Denver. Greg Maddux was in line for his 341st career win until Holliday erased a 5-2 deficit with a no-doubt, 446-foot, three-run homer off righthander Scott Linebrink (3-3). Colorado paid -140.
Arizona 4, Florida 3: Dontrelle Willis (7-10) allowed four runs, including Orlando Hudson’s two-run homer, and lost his career-high seventh straight decision as the Diamondbacks beat the visiting Marlins. Arizona was a -112 favorite.
For complete MLB odds for Tuesday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.