San Francisco ? Barry Bonds hit his 700th home run Friday night, toppling another milestone and edging closer to Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in his quest to become the greatest slugger in baseball history.

Bonds rewarded baseball fans in the opener of the San Francisco Giants’ nine-game homestand with a 392-foot opposite-field homer to left-center leading off the third inning. He connected on an 0-1 slider from Jake Peavy, giving the Giants a 4-0 lead over the San Diego Padres.

As Bonds rounded second base, the Giants launched streamers and an elaborate fireworks display from the scoreboard and light towers in center field. He pointed skyward as he crossed home plate, then took a curtain call to a joyous standing ovation.

The Giants also unveiled two enormous banners on the light towers: one featuring Bonds with “700” below him and another featuring action shots of Ruth and Aaron and their corresponding totals.

Bonds’ 42nd homer of the season was a mere steppingstone in the 40-year-old’s march toward Ruth’s once-unthinkable 714 and Aaron’s 755.

Bonds got another big ovation when he walked to left field after the inning. Bonds doffed his cap as the Giants unveiled one more tribute on the outfield wall behind him, a montage featuring the slogan: “A Giant Among Legends.”

The ball was caught on the fly by Steven Williams, a 25-year-old fan from nearby Pacifica, according to Giants officials.