Now I’m usually not one to make a big deal about something as everyday as a regular season baseball game. However, I must make a special case for the game that Scott and I attended last night at SBC Park, in which the San Francisco Giants defeated the division leading San Diego Padres 4-3. With the season coming to a close, the Giants must sweep the three game series to have any remote chance of earning a playoff spot for a chance at October glory. This Monday game in September had an additional storyline, for this was the night that saw the return of the Giants (or Gigantes on Latin night) of their homerun record chasing fearsome hitter, Barry Bonds. He did not disappoint, but in a way that was unexpected to me.
The top of the first inning was a nightmare for the Giants. Their starting pitcher allowed three runs and had runners on first and third when he was yanked having managed to get just one batter out. It was three up and three down for the Giants in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second? Bonds. The crowd of 39,000 went nuts. There was a standing ovation as flashes went off all around the stadium. Bonds swung for the fences and hit a couple of towering foul balls. He hit one that appeared to be just over the centerfield wall, but it was deemed a ground rule double. The previously moribund Giants came alive. Bonds started an 11 hit parade, which included 3 for 3 nights for the two batters right after Bonds in the order. Bonds’ presence simply was the catalyst for better and more inspired play. Watch out for those Giants!!!