The Pittsburgh Pirates banned Barry Bonds from their clubhouse. Their biggest mistake was not barring him from the ballpark.
The Pirates couldn't pay Bonds' $43.75 million megasalary last December, so he defected to San Francisco where he's carrying the first-place Giants squarely on his shoulders.Bonds kept the Giants 6 1/2 games ahead of streaking Atlanta in the National League West, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and his fifth two-homer game this season in a 9-6 victory Wednesday night over Pittsburgh.
The Braves won their ninth in a row, beating Los Angeles 5-4 in 12 innings.
"He had a great night, but then I've seen him have a lot of great nights - and, fortunately, most of them were in a Pirates uniform," Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland said. "He's going to have a lot more great nights."
And if the Pirates didn't fully appreciate Bonds' talents while he led them to three division championships, he gave them a nine-inning reminder of the damage he can inflict. He doubled in the first, singled in the third, followed Robby Thompson's homer with an even longer one of his own in the fifth and homered again in the ninth.
He already has 38 homers, four more than he ever hit in a season in Pittsburgh, and 94 RBI, and it's only mid-August. The effect on the both teams is obvious: A year ago the Giants were 57-63, now they're 80-40; the Pirates were 69-52, now they're 57-64.
Until this night, Bonds had spared his former teammates from his hit list; he was hitless in his last 12 at-bats in Three Rivers Stadium and was batting just .138 this season against the Pirates.
They should have known he was too good for that to last. Maybe it took Leyland banning him from the Pirates' clubhouse last month to fire Bonds up.
Bonds' second homer, a drive to straightaway center off rookie Brian Shouse in the ninth, cost him a possible triple and the chance to hit for the cycle. It actually may have been the first time he rooted for a ball to stay in the park, not go out.
The Pirates' problem was they couldn't keep Bonds in the park or starter Zane Smith in the game.
Smith (3-5), trying for his fourth straight win, labored from the start and was finally lifted after giving up five runs on seven hits over three-plus innings. His bullpen wasn't much better.
Braves 5, Dodgers 4, 12 innings
The Atlanta Braves won their ninth straight game Wednesday night, but they're only two games closer to the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants than they were when the streak started.
Atlanta's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 12 innings came about an hour after the Giants had beaten the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6. The Braves held second, 6 1/2 games behind.
Mets 12, Reds 2
Frank Tanana beat the Reds for the third time this season and hit his first major league triple. The 40-year-old Tanana (6-12) allowed five hits over eight innings and his bases-loaded shot down the right field line was enough to beat the Reds. Jeromy Burnitz and Todd Hundley added homers for the Mets, who won two of the three games in the series at Riverfront Stadium. Jeff Branson and Willie Greene homered for the Reds, who lost for the eighth time in nine games.
Astros 2, Marlins 1
Greg Swindell snapped a six-game losing streak at home as the Astros won for the fifth time in seven games. Swindell (9-9) went eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out seven. Chris James' pinch-single in the eighth broke the 1-1 tie.
Cardinals 4, Padres 0
Donovan Osborne (10-6) allowed two hits over seven innings and the Cardinals broke a scoreless tie with a three-run seventh. Gregg Jefferies extended his hitting streak to 15 games with three hits and his double drove in the last of the runs in the deciding seventh. Doug Brocail (2-10) didn't allow an earned run in losing his seventh consecutive decision.
Phillies 7, Rockies 6
John Kruk hit two solo homers and Kevin Stocker drove in three runs as the Phillies won for the fifth time in as many games at Mile High Stadium. The Rockies took a 6-5 lead in the fifth on an RBI-double by Chris Jones and RBI-groundout by Charlie Hayes. But Kruk tied it in the seventh with his second homer and Stocker broke the final tie later in the inning with a run-scoring single. Reliever Bobby Thigpen (2-0) allowed one hit over two innings and Mitch Williams pitched the ninth for his 34th save.
Cubs 2, Expos 0
Greg Hibbard and two relievers combined on a four-hitter. Hibbard (10-9) allowed the last of the hits with one out in the top of the ninth. Randy Myers came on and walked two batters. Jose Bautista then got a strikeout and fly ball for his first major-league save and the first by any Cub other than Myers this season. Sammy Sosa hit his 29th homer off Ken Hill (7-4).
American League
Blue Jays 7, Indians 6, 11 innings
John Olerud singled with two outs in the 11th inning, moved up on a wild pitch by Derek Lilliquist and scored on Paul Molitor's sharp single through the middle at Cleveland Stadium.
Olerud went 3 for 5, raising his batting average to .389. Rickey Henderson drew four walks, tying a Toronto record.
Danny Cox (6-5) pitched four scoreless innings for the victory and Duane Ward worked the ninth for his 34th save.
The Blue Jays tied it at 6 on Devon White's RBI double in the eighth off Lilliquist (2-2).
Tigers 8, Angels 6
Travis Fryman hit a two-run single that highlighted a six-run rally in the ninth inning. Detroit overcame two home runs by Tim Salmon to win at Anaheim, Calif.
Salmon, leading all major league rookies with 27 homers and 79 RBI, set an Angels record for home runs by a rookie. Ken Hunt hit 25 in 1961.
The Tigers won their third straight game.
Orioles 8, Mariners 1
Baltimore stopped its longest losing streak in five years at eight games, winning at the Kingdome behind Jamie Moyer.
The Orioles won eight in a row before their worst skid since 1988, when they started the season with 21 straight losses. Baltimore went 2-8 on its trip to Detroit, New York and Seattle.
Rangers 4, Yankees 2
Dean Palmer hit just his second home run since the All-Star game, and Texas turned four double plays in the first five innings at Yankee Stadium.
Palmer's 23rd homer, a two-run shot in the second inning, put the Rangers ahead. Roger Pavlik (7-6) made it stand up with help from relievers Craig Lefferts and Tom Henke, who got his 29th save.
Royals 5, Twins 2
Kevin Appier pitched hitless ball for 51/3 innings and Gary Gaetti homered again as Kansas City won at the Metrodome.
Appier (14-6) gave up five hits in eight innings, and Jeff Montgomery closed for his 38th save. The Royals won their third in a row.
Athletics 2, Brewers 1
Scott Brosius hit a two-run homer and Ron Darling pitched seven strong innings, leading Oakland over Milwaukee at the Coliseum.
Brosius' third home run of the season came in the second inning off Angel Miranda (3-2). Greg Vaughn hit his 25th home run in the Milwaukee third.