Andrew Baggarly
Mercury News
Don't tell Barry Bonds there's no steam left in the rivalry with the Dodgers.
Don't tell these post-Bonds-era Giants, either.
Fresh off a meeting with the Dalai Lama — relax, we'll explain that one in a jiffy — the all-time home run king attended a most enlightening 5-4 victory over the Dodgers at AT&T Park.
Bonds, 44, again refused to rubber-stamp his retirement. But the Giants made the strongest statement on a chilly Monday night against the division-leading Dodgers, scoring twice in the eighth inning to avenge an embarrassing three-game sweep in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Rich Aurilia and Bengie Molina hit infield tappers that scored the tying and go-ahead runs against right-hander Ronald Belisario, an inspired comeback after the Dodgers had just scored four runs to wrest the lead in the seventh.
Barry Zito had his own brand of Zen for most of the evening, running his home scoreless streak to 14 innings — his longest in three seasons as a Giant — before giving up a two-run home run to Casey Blake in the seventh. The Dodgers scored the tying and go-ahead runs on Merkin Valdez's watch, but the right-hander tossed a scoreless eighth to receive the victory.
Brian Wilson, who blew a three-run save opportunity a day earlier in Arizona, got emphatic redemption when he struck out the side in the ninth.
"I feed on positivity," said Wilson, who didn't blow consecutive save opportunities once last season. "It's an emotional game. Once we got the lead, you could feel what was happening out there. I tried to take that inside me and be one with the fans." Said Zito: "Having Barry here and playing the Dodgers for the first time here, the fans were fired up. They've got a great team "... so for us to make a statement at our place was big. 'Hey, you got the best of us down there, but we plan to be tough at home this year.' And that's what we've been doing." The Giants improved to 7-2 at AT&T Park, including four come-from-behind victories. In a brief session with reporters just before the first pitch, Bonds said he is working out "a little bit" but squinted into a camera bulb and said he "didn't want to be in the spotlight again." "I just haven't retired. That's the only status I have," said Bonds, adding he talks with agent Jeff Borris only about where they'll do lunch. "The only interest I have is to go to my seats and watch the Giants beat the Dodgers." No interest in getting back to the field? "I am," Bonds said, laughing. "I'm going right over here to section whatever and I'll be sitting in my seats." Bonds sat between managing partner Bill Neukom and president Larry Baer for four innings, then spent some time in the television and radio booths. Perhaps they discussed if or when Bonds' 10-year personal services contract with the team will begin. Will Bonds make frequent appearances at AT&T Park? "As often as Larry (Baer) and them want me to come back," Bonds said. Bonds was in the Bay Area as a personal guest of Christopher Laub, a young boy who befriended Bonds several years ago while fighting cancer. Laub received an "Unsung Heroes of Compassion" award from the Dalai Lama on Sunday in Marin County. Zito finally seems to have found harmony at AT&T Park, using its spacious dimensions to his advantage while recording seven flyouts to the right side. The Giants handed him a three-run lead in the first inning and he held a threatening lineup scoreless through the sixth. Zito, whose record remained at 0-2, admitted to fatigue in the seventh. There was one casualty in the victory: Outfielder Andres Torres strained a hamstring while running the bases in the eighth inning. He's likely to go on the disabled list today. From: MLB.com
 LA Dodgers (13-7) Lost 2 | San Francisco 5, LA Dodgers 4 |  San Francisco (9-9) Won 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Standings thru 4/27/09 | Recap: LAD | SF | Wrap | Gameday |
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