SAN FRANCISCO – Barry Bonds hit a two-run homer in the first inning to support a strong effort by Kirk Rueter and help the San Francisco Giants beat the Mets 3-1 yesterday.

Ray Durham led off the first with a homer as the Giants remained on top of the NL wild card chase by winning for the ninth time in 11 games.

Two batters later, Bonds hit his 693rd career homer and 35th of the season, a two-run shot that scored Edgardo Alfonso.

Matt Ginter (1-3) pitched effectively for the Mets after the rough first inning. He gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

“The first inning was the difference. Ginter threw great after that,” manager Art Howe said. “He made a couple of mistakes, and gave up two home runs. The way Rueter pitched today, that’s all it took.”

Ginter was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day to make the start. He pitched against the Houston Astros 11 days earlier.

Rueter (7-9) allowed five hits in seven innings, his longest outing since pitching eight on May 7. He walked one and struck out one.

Rueter allowed fewer than two runs for the first time since June 21, when he also allowed just one run.

Dustin Hermanson recorded the final four outs for his fifth save in six tries.

Richard Hidalgo led off the fourth inning with a homer for the Mets, who lost their fourth in seven games to fall eight games behind the Giants in the wild card race.

Bonds, who reached base seven straight times in one stretch during the series, is 21 homers shy of tying Babe Ruth for second on baseball’s career list.