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The San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds hits a two-run home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aaron Harang in the first inning Tuesday in Cincinnati. Reds catcher David Ross is at right. The home run was the 751st of Bond’s career.
AP photo
CINCINNATI — In the city where Hank Aaron completed his quest, Barry Bonds came out hammering.
Bonds hit homer No. 751 in his first at-bat Tuesday night, a two-run shot that moved him within four of Aaron’s record during the San Francisco Giants’ 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Brandon Phillips’ grand slam gave Pete Mackanin a victory in his debut as Cincinnati’s interim manager. Mackanin was promoted from advance scout after baseball’s worst team fired Jerry Narron on Sunday night.
That’s not what the fans came to experience.
Bonds’ homer on his third swing of the game drew loud and prolonged boos from the crowd of 37,299, a reminder that fans outside of San Francisco view his record chase through the prism of baseball’s steroid scandal.
Like it or not, he’s closing in.
Bonds’ latest came in the city where Aaron hit No. 714 on opening day 1974, tying Babe Ruth’s previous mark. That record-book homer landed at Riverfront Stadium, which was demolished in 2002.
Bonds’ second career homer off Aaron Harang (9-2) was the master stroke in a sloppy game between last-place teams in the NL’s West and Central divisions.