Bonilla Finds Every Day Is Different : Pirates: After wearing goat horns Tuesday, he starts the game-ending double play.

PITTSBURGH —  Bobby Bonilla awoke Wednesday morning, walked into his den and there was his daughter, flicking channels on the TV, watching replays of her daddy being thrown out at third base in Game 4.

Bonilla came to the ballpark, took a glance at the Pittsburgh Pirate lineup card and saw that he was playing third base for the first time since Aug. 1 and only the ninth time this season. Something about Jeff King having lower back pains. Nice time for an injury, Bonilla remembers thinking to himself.

He came onto the field, and there was Cincinnati Red outfielder Eric Davis standing there, reminding him that it’s not wise to run on an arm like his.

“You know, it was just one of those days where you think nothing’s going to go right,” he said. “You just wait for the worst.”

And there he stood at third base in the ninth inning Wednesday night, his hands resting on his hips, his eyes looking toward the sky and his mind searching for answers.

“I was thinking, ‘man, here we go again,’ ” he said. “ ‘They’re getting all the breaks. This thing just isn’t meant to be.’ ”

Barry Bonds, Bonilla’s best friend who was standing behind him in left field, said: “I started thinking it was over. I just knew something bad was going to happen in the ninth, and I thought, ‘Well, I better make that tee-time for Saturday, because I’m going to be golfing.’

“As it turned out, Bobby messed up my plans. I’ve got to unpack my golf bags, because it looks like we’re still going to be playing.”

Bonilla, who made 67 errors at third base the past two seasons before being moved to right field in 1990, made the play of the night, preserving the Pirates’ 3-2 victory over the Reds.

“We heard something about Reds saying how it was over,” Bonds said, “but we’re still playing, aren’t we? They can party and celebrate all they want. If they want to celebrate before the last game ends, please, feel free.

“It’s like that saying, ‘don’t look back, somebody might be in front of you.’ ”

Whatever.

The Reds opened the ninth inning with a single to center by Paul O’Neill. Davis, who had struck out three times, followed with a grounder down the third base line that hit the third base bag and went straight up.

Bonilla didn’t have a chance. Everyone was safe. And the crowd of 48,221 at Three Rivers Stadium became awfully quiet.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Bonilla said. “I just groaned. It looked like it was meant to be for them.”

Hal Morris laid down a sacrifice bunt and Chris Sabo was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Bonilla walked over to second baseman Jose Lind and told him if the ball was hit to his left, look for a throw. If the ball’s hit at him, he’s going home.

“You know it’s funny,” Bonilla said, “I wanted the ball hit to me there. I really did. I wanted to be the one to make the play. I wanted it on my shoulders.”

Jeff Reed, batting left-handed, stood at the plate and watched reliever Bob Patterson throw Ball 1. The next pitch was a strike. Reed swung at the next and hit a two-bouncer to the left of Bonilla.

“I knew Bobby would get to the ball,” Bonds said, “but I just didn’t know if he’d keep his balance. The way everything’s been going for us, I really didn’t anticipate anything good happening.”

But there was Bonilla, running to his left, scooping the ball with his glove and throwing to Lind.

“I wasn’t even looking at Chico (Lind),” Bonilla said. “I knew he’d catch the ball. He always does. I was looking at Sid (Bream) at first, seeing if the ball would get there.”

Lind took the throw as he stepped on second base, jumped high into the air to avoid Sabo and threw low to first. Bream scooped up the ball, umpire Jerry Crawford looked to make sure he hung onto it and then punched his first into the air for the third out.

“I remember just jumping up and going crazy,” Bonilla said. “The only thing I was worried about was stepping on somebody.”

The mini-celebration continued in the clubhouse, and by the time the Pirate clubhouse cleared, it turned into a testimony to Bonilla’s maligned defensive skills and a denunciation of King.

“They try to make Jeff King that everyday third baseman,” Bonds said, “but Jeff King gets all these injuries. He’s a young ballplayer. He should be out there every day. Sooner or later, he’ll come out of it. But if he doesn’t, somebody’s going to take his job.

“I’m not trying to put Jeff King down, but if I had my choice, I’d have Bobby there every day. I sure want him out there Friday.

“Jeff King can just lay there and get his back ready for spring training.”