Bonds Within One

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Barry Bonds could only chuckle when asked if it had finally sunk in that he’s a single swing from history.“It’s sinking,” he said.Mr. Bonds hit a soaring drive for his 754th home run Friday night, leaving him one shy of tying Hank Aaron’s record.Hammerin’ Hank, he’s right behind you now.Mr. Bonds sent a 2-1 pitch from rookie Rick Vanden Hurk over the wall in left-center in the first inning for a solo shot in the San Francisco Giants 12-10 win over the Florida Marlins.Mr. Bonds walked in his next four plate appearances and will keep up his pursuit Saturday night, when Dontrelle Willis starts for the Marlins.“Tonight was a great night,” Mr. Bonds said, joined in his postgame news conference by wife, Liz, daughter, Aisha, and son, Nikolai. “The ball was just carrying.”Bud Selig wasn’t there to see this homer, sending MLB president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy in his place. The commissioner was back in Milwaukee, preparing to go to Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.Mr. Bonds did hear from Michael Jordan, though. A taped message from the NBA great played on AT&T Park’s video board between innings.“It was great seeing the board, and having Michael Jordan say what he said was phenomenal,” Mr. Bonds said.After a brief pause to put specially marked baseballs in play, Mr. Bonds had drawn ball one and ball two – with boos raining down on Vanden Hurk – before a called first strike. Then, the 84 mph changeup was gone – a drive estimated at 420 feet.“I wanted to throw it down and I left it hanging up and he hit out,” Mr. Vanden Hurk said. “I knew he got real good wood on it. I knew when I let it go I didn’t bury it or finish it all the way. I just left it up. If a pitch is up, you’re going to get hurt, obviously.’As usual, Mr. Bonds stood and watched his ball sail away, then began yet another trot and pumped his fist along the way. “754” flashed on the main scoreboard, and Mr, Bonds blew kisses to his family when he crossed home. Then, Mr. Bonds hugged hitting coach Joe Lefebvre in the dugout. Lefebvre has been working closely with the 43-year-old slugger during his recent struggles.“I wasn’t caught up in the moment,” Mr. Bonds said. “Yesterday I sat around and studied my films. There was things that I got away from.”Fans, already on their feet for Mr. Bonds’ first at-bat, screamed in delight when it was clear he had homered – Mr. Bonds’ first at home since he connected for No. 750 on June 29 against Arizona’s Livan Hernandez. “Barry! Barry!” they chanted as he rounded the bases.“He knew he got it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “After that he didn’t get many pitches to hit.”Hundreds of fans held their cell phones in the air to take pictures after Mr. Bonds’ home run and during each of his other plate appearances. They booed when he drew the walks.“The only thing different was he was just trying to throw his arm out of socket,” Mr. Bonds said. “His velocity went from one extreme to another on my next at-bats.”The fan who retrieved No. 754 was Eric Stormer, a general contractor and season ticketholder from nearby Mr. Martinez.In his first chance to tie Mr. Aaron, Mr. Bonds walked on five pitches in the third inning. He also walked in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings.Home is certainly where his heart is. Mr. Bonds has hit many of his milestone homers here – Nos. 500, 600 and 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays. This is also where he hit 715 last May 28 to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the career list. No. 714 came across San Francisco Bay in Oakland.In 2001, Mr. Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home, breaking Mark McGwire’s season record of 70.Can he set the mark this weekend?“I’ll try, if they cooperate,” Mr. Bonds said.The Giants go on the road starting Tuesday night against rival Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.Mr. Bonds had gone homerless in five games and 18 at-bats since hitting two against the Chicago Cubs on July 19 at Wrigley Field. He had been 3-for-18 since his previous homer, but said he didn’t think he was overswinging.“What’s he’s done is unreal,” Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs said. “I know everyone talks about A-Rod having a chance one day to do this, but until that days comes, Barry Bonds is by far the best hitter I think that’s ever played this game.”Mr. Bonds has said he’s a bit distracted when the commemorative balls are worked in for each of his plate appearances.“When they stop it for a second and switch baseballs, it’s very hard to not know something’s happening right in front of you,” Mr. Bonds said after his two-homer game in Chicago.The seven-time NL MVP went out to his spot in left field in the top of the second with fans pounding the outfield fence in celebration. Mr. Bonds turned to acknowledge them with a wave of his cap.A “Road to History” tribute played on the main center-field scoreboard with the greeting from Mr. Jordan.“Hey Barry, it’s Michael Jordan,” his message said. “I just want to congratulate you on your historic event. I’m very happy for you. Ever since the first day I saw you in the batting cage, you’ve been working toward this for a long period of time. So I want to wish you and Elizabeth and that beautiful girl of yours congratulations. I’m very happy for you.”The Giants finally won a game in which Mr. Bonds homered, their first since June 11 against Toronto.“It felt good, real good,” Mr. Bonds said. “The win felt better, a lot better.”Selig is scheduled to be in Los Angeles starting Tuesday. Mr. Aaron has said he won’t be there when his 33-year-old record falls.

Bonds Within One

Bonds Within One

More from the New York Sun

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

Ukraine Reports Restored Access to Starlink Amid Contradictory Accounts of Who Ordered the Slowdown

Two Ex-FBI Officials Face Charges of Lying to Congress Over Hunter Biden Probe

The College Degree Is Less a Must and More a Financial Calculation

Moscow Declares Plague Lab Death Case ‘Closed’ — but Nobody Is Saying What Killed Darya Shipilova

A Michigan Man Sat in Jail 10 Days Before Feds Revealed He Was an Alleged Saddam Spy

Ozempic-Style Drugs for 8-Year-Olds? Prescriptions to Young Kids Explode 310-Fold

‘Sickening’ Allegations Against Meghan Markle’s Father Threaten To Complicate Harry’s Bid for Royal Reconciliation

More from the New York Sun

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

Ukraine Reports Restored Access to Starlink Amid Contradictory Accounts of Who Ordered the Slowdown

Two Ex-FBI Officials Face Charges of Lying to Congress Over Hunter Biden Probe

The College Degree Is Less a Must and More a Financial Calculation

Moscow Declares Plague Lab Death Case ‘Closed’ — but Nobody Is Saying What Killed Darya Shipilova

A Michigan Man Sat in Jail 10 Days Before Feds Revealed He Was an Alleged Saddam Spy

Ozempic-Style Drugs for 8-Year-Olds? Prescriptions to Young Kids Explode 310-Fold

‘Sickening’ Allegations Against Meghan Markle’s Father Threaten To Complicate Harry’s Bid for Royal Reconciliation