Networks plan to stick close to Bonds

All of Barry Bonds’ at-bats will be shown on ESPN, either live or as soon as possible, until he breaks Hank Aaron’s home run record.

And if Bonds plays for San Francisco this afternoon at Milwaukee, Fox will cut away from the Dodgers-New York Mets telecast to show every plate appearance.

The Giants return home Monday for a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves, and the first game has been added to the ESPN2 schedule. The 7 p.m. game will follow Boston-Cleveland, which was already on the ESPN2 schedule.

The remaining three games of the series will be nationally televised by TBS.

Also, ESPN announced that it will televise a live 90-minute special on Bonds on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The special, titled “Beyond 756: An ESPN Town Meeting,” will have baseball commentators and a live audience involved in a discussion of Bonds’ legacy. It will take place in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. Bob Ley will serve as the host.

-- Larry Stewart