Bonds Is the Center of Attention Again

Dusty Baker thinks pitchers are deliberately throwing at Barry Bonds.

“It makes you wonder, like the old days, if there was a bounty,” the San Francisco Giant manager said after Bonds homered Thursday night during a 4-3 victory over the Mets at New York.

Pedro Astacio’s next pitch to the star slugger sailed over his head.

“That was the third or fourth ball that was thrown at his head [this season],” Baker said.

Bonds was at the center of controversy. He was called out on strikes by plate umpire Dan Iassogna in the first inning, homered in the fourth to start San Francisco’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit, walked on four pitches in the sixth, then was called out on strikes in the eighth.

Walking back to the dugout, he said something to Iassogna and was ejected for the first time since Aug. 2, 1998, when he was hit by a pitch from Philadelphia’s Ricky Bottalico after going four for four, then charged the mound.

San Francisco, which completed a three-game sweep, has won seven in row, its best streak since taking nine in a row last July 25 to Aug. 3. At 22-11, the Giants are off to their best start since 1973.

Florida 1, San Diego 0--Three Cuban defectors helped pitch a five-hitter, including rookie Hansel Izquierdo, who went five innings for his first career victory as the Marlins won at Miami.

Izquierdo (1-0) was followed to the mound by countryman Michael Tejera, Braden Looper and Cuban Vladimir Nunez, who pitched the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

Milwaukee 9, Chicago 4--Jose Hernandez hit a pair of two-run homers at Chicago and the Brewers used a six-run sixth inning to end a nine-game road losing streak.

Sammy Sosa hit his major league-leading 15th homer off Ben Sheets (3-3). It was the 465th of his career to tie him with Dave Winfield for 21st place all-time.

Montreal 6, Colorado 5--Jose Vidro hit a run-scoring single off Rick White (0-4) in the 12th inning at Montreal as the Expos ended their season-high six-game losing streak before 3,183, the smallest Olympic Stadium crowd of the season.

Philadelphia 3, Houston 1--Randy Wolf gave up two hits in seven innings and pinch-hitter Tomas Perez hit a two-run double in the seventh at Philadelphia to lead the Phillies to their sixth consecutive victory. The Phillies swept Houston at home for the first time since July 1985.