National League Roundup: Bonds not just about home runs

Slugger's defense helps Giants deny Padres in 4-1 victory

? Barry Bonds helped the San Francisco Giants win their fifth straight game with his glove, not his bat.

Bonds had a spectacular sliding catch with the bases loaded and scored the go-ahead run on J.T. Snow’s sixth-inning single as San Francisco remained undefeated, beating the San Diego Padres, 4-1, Saturday.

San Francisco's Barry Bonds makes a diving catch on a ball hit by San Diego's Ryan Klesko. After making the catch, Bonds threw out Kevin Jarvis at the plate during the third inning of the Giants' 4-1 victory Saturday at San Francisco.

“He’s got some Gold Gloves,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We really aren’t surprised by anything he does, either defensively or with the bat.”

Bonds, who hit a record 73 home runs last season, was homerless after hitting five in the first four games.

Aaron Fultz (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Giants, who remain the only undefeated team in the majors. Robb Nen earned his second save.

San Francisco starter Kurt Ainsworth, an Olympic gold medalist making his first career start, got into trouble in the third, loading the bases with no outs for Ryan Klesko.

Klesko returning from a season-opening suspension popped up to shallow left, where Bonds sprinted before making a sliding catch. Bonds jumped up and hurled the ball to catcher Benito Santiago in time to catch Kevin Jarvis a the plate.

After Phil Nevin grounded out to end the inning, the fans gave Bonds a standing ovation as he headed to the dugout.

The Padres made it 1-0 in the fourth inning on Sean Burroughs’ RBI double down the left-field line.

The Giants went ahead in the sixth. Aurilia singled, Bonds walked and Jeff Kent reached on shortstop Deivi Cruz’s error to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scored Aurilia, and Snow singled to score Bonds. David Bell scored Kent with another single.

Jarvis (0-2) allowed two runs on four hits over five innings.

Bell added another RBI single scoring Bonds in the eighth. Bonds, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, finished 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.

Pirates 6, Cubs 1

Chicago Josh Fogg pitched seven shutout innings in his first major league start and Pittsburgh rolled to its fourth win in five games. Fogg, acquired along with Sean Lowe and Kip Wells from the White Sox for Todd Ritchie in an offseason trade, allowed just five hits to get his first big league win.

Pittsburgh knocked Matt Clement (0-1) out in a four-run sixth.

Mets 11, Braves 2

Atlanta New York scored nine runs in the ninth inning eight off Atlanta closer John Smoltz to beat the Braves. The Mets won at Turner Field for the second night in a row despite losing All-Star catcher Mike Piazza to a knee injury in the sixth inning. Piazza’s replacement, Vance Wilson, hit a two-run double off Smoltz in the ninth. Smoltz (0-1) was charged with eight runs, six hits and two walks.

Expos 5, Reds 2

Cincinnati Tomo Ohka gave up only a solo homer in five innings and Montreal took advantage of another slapstick Cincinnati inning to beat the Reds. The Expos sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in the sixth with only one hit an infield single. Montreal got four walks and a sacrifice fly, and third baseman Aaron Boone made a pivotal error.

Marlins 7, Phillies 3

Philadelphia Eric Owens hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two outs in the eighth and Alex Gonzalez added a three-run homer in the ninth for Florida. The Marlins, who squandered a 3-0 lead in the seventh, went back ahead in the eighth with Owens’ hit off Jose Santiago (0-1).

Diamondbacks 6, Brewers 3

Milwaukee Randy Johnson beat Milwaukee for the 13th straight time, striking out 12 in seven innings. Johnson (2-0), who is undefeated in his last 16 starts against Milwaukee, allowed one run, five hits and three walks. He improved to 16-4 against the Brewers, who last beat him on Aug. 5, 1992, at old County Stadium.

Cardinals 8, Astros 4

Houston Albert Pujols hit his first homer of the season and drove in three runs to lead St. Louis. Eli Marrero and Mike DiFelice also homered for the Cardinals. Matt Morris (2-0) gave up two unearned runs in six innings. Marrero doubled, tripled and homered before manager Tony La Russa replaced Marrero with Tino Martinez at first base in the eighth inning for defensive purposes. What La Russa didn’t realize at the time was that Marrero was a single short of the cycle.

Dodgers 9, Rockies 2

Los Angeles Brian Jordan hit a grand slam in the Dodgers’ six-run seventh inning.