Bonds Cheered in Pittsburgh

Tuesday, August 14th 2007, 7:34 am

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ For one night, all was forgiven between Barry Bonds and Pittsburgh. The lack of clutch hitting during three playoff series failures. The throw that didn't get Sid Bream. The shouting match with Jim Leyland.

As a few cheer-filled hours Monday nearly made up for 15 years of constant jeering, Barry Bonds was Pittsburgh's own again. They greeted him more warmly than they did their own players, displayed signs in his honor and gave him multiple standing ovations.

The way baseball's new home run king was greeted in the city that once booed him like no other _ where were all those ``Barr-ee! Barr-ee!'' chants of the past _ it almost seemed as if he were a Pirates player again. Almost.

``That goes to show you Pittsburgh people, they understand the game,'' Bonds said in his first road appearance since breaking Hank Aaron's cherished home run record a week ago. ``They were always great to me when I was here. When I was here, we never got booed. We brought a lot of excitement and they appreciated that.''

He brought that excitement again, even if he was limited to a single in three at-bats in the opener of a Giants-Pirates doubleheader split. The crowd of 25,434 wasn't close to being a sellout, but was far more than the Pirates normally would get for a Monday night makeup twinbill that wasn't listed on their original schedule.

``He got a really nice hand, and I'm glad,'' said Paul Maholm, who beat the Giants 3-1 on a three-hitter in the opener. ``He deserved it. He's had a great career and it all started here for him. It was a great thrill just pitching to him because I grew up watching him just like everybody else. It was kind of cool to get him out a couple of times.''

Bonds said it was cool to be back in Pittsburgh, too, for what might have been the final time since he broke in with the Pirates 21 years ago. The Giants are likely to go young after this season, and the 43-year-old Bonds may have to be a designated hitter AL next year to get his at-bats.

``I don't know, could be,'' Bonds said when asked if this might be his final stop in Pittsburgh. ``I'll wait and see.''

In the only other NL game, the Astros beat the Dodgers 4-1 in Los Angeles.

Becoming baseball's career home run record holder didn't completely win over the Pirates' fans _ there were a few boos during every plate appearance _ but it was by far the warmest response he's gotten since leaving after the 1992 season.

The last moment Bonds spent with the Pirates, his throw home that didn't get the slow-afoot Bream and allowed Atlanta to beat the Pirates 3-2 in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, has remained in the memory banks of countless Pirates fans. So did his .191 average in 68 playoff at-bats from 1990-92, and those three lone postseason extra-base hits.

Those 758 homers he's hit during the regular season aren't as important to many Pittsburghers as the one single playoff homer he hit for the Pirates.

It was those failings, and not the much-later allegations involving performance-enhancing drugs and the BALCO lab, that turned Pittsburgh against him. The fans even tolerated his 1991 spring training blowup with Leyland, the manager he now respects above all others.

But the Pirates haven't had a winning season since Bonds left _ they are 14 losses away from a 15th consecutive losing season, one short of the record. Now, those days with Bonds patrolling left field in Three Rivers Stadium are being remembered more fondly.

``It was nice, it was great, I was happy,'' Bonds said of the warm welcome. ``After all the years you played here and you come back and get that kind of welcome, it's nice.''

Bonds also dropped a bit of news during his brief stay in town. After previously saying he intended to play in 2008 and beyond, he now seems convinced next season will be his last.

``(Playing) after next year? I don't know. I don't think so,'' Bonds said. ``I don't think so. I don't think two years I can make.''

So, if this was goodbye to Pittsburgh, at least it was a pleasant one.

``When you're an opposing player, they're supposed to get on you,'' said Bonds, who sat out the second game. ``That's what gives you that drive to play, when it seems the odds are against you.''

While Bonds' potential farewell was memorable, the doubleheader wasn't. After Bonds was held to a single as the Giants lost the opener, they beat the Pirates for the first time in five games over four days in two cities, winning 10-3 behind Noah Lowry (13-7), Ryan Klesko's grand slam and Rajai Davis' hitting and fielding.

Davis had two of his three doubles for the day in the second game. He also made an exceptional sprawling catch of Freddy Sanchez's drive to deep left-center with the scored tied at 1 in the fifth.

Davis, who played sparingly with the Pirates before they all but gave him away in the Matt Morris trade on July 31, said he wasn't trying to show up his former team. His 8-for-19 (.421) performance with four doubles, a triple and six runs scored against them since Friday said otherwise.

``I'm just trying to put good wood on the ball and things have been falling for me,'' Davis said.

Astros 4, Dodgers 1

At Los Angeles, Jason Lane hit a two-run homer, Roy Oswalt won his fifth consecutive decision and Houston sent slumping Los Angeles to its ninth loss in 11 games.

Oswalt (13-6) gave up a run and six hits in eight innings with two walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander hasn't allowed more than one run in any start during his winning streak.

Chad Qualls pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in six chances.

Chad Billingsley (7-4) allowed four runs and six hits, struck out seven and walked four in losing his fourth consecutive outing.