Before anyone gets too excited about Barry Bonds hitting four home runs in the Giants’ first two games, be mindful that the only player to have done that previously  Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews with the Braves in 1958  finished that season with 31.

We’re talking different eras, of course, and there is every reason to believe that Bonds, who added a fifth homer to win Friday’s game, might be just as devastating as last year, when he set single-season records for home runs (73), slugging percentage (.860) and walks (177).

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, who had to deal with Bonds in the NL and will again this year in an interleague series at Yankee Stadium June 7-9, recalled that whenever Bonds came up with first base open he would look into the dugout.

“He wanted to know if I was going to walk him,” Torre said. “You can’t just walk him so he doesn’t hit a home run. You have to see what the situation dictates and try not to let him beat you.

“He’s right on top of the plate and by choking up a bit on the bat has a short stroke. Barry doesn’t have a lot of holes. Early in the game, you have to go after him. You can’t let yourself be afraid of the home run.”

Bonds’ five homers came without Jeff Kent in the lineup, but Kent returned from his controversial wrist injury Saturday.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean still thinks Kent  a former National League MVP  was injured falling from a motorcycle and not while washing his truck, as Kent claimed, but won’t make a federal case out of it.

“Let’s just say there are two sides to every story,” Sabean said.