Giants Play Despite Earthquake

When an earthquake shook San Francisco in 1989, the World Series was postponed for 10 days. This one didn't even delay the game. <br><br>While the stands at Pacific Bell Park rumbled Monday night,

Tuesday, May 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

When an earthquake shook San Francisco in 1989, the World Series was postponed for 10 days. This one didn't even delay the game.

While the stands at Pacific Bell Park rumbled Monday night, Chipper Jones and most of the players never even noticed.

``All I felt was the chill in my bones,'' Jones said.

The Atlanta slugger was batting in the ninth inning when the earthquake hit, rattling glass panes in the front of the press box. But play continued and moments later the Braves rallied from two runs down against Robb Nen to tie it.

The Giants won 7-6 in the 11th when Chris Hammond (1-2) walked Jeff Kent with the bases loaded.

San Francisco manager Dusty Baker, a hitting coach for the Giants in 1989 when that earthquake rattled Candlestick Park, wasn't surprised there was little reaction from players or the 36,331 fans.

``They were either too excited or too cold to feel it,'' Baker said.

In other NL games, it was: Arizona 11, Pittsburgh 0; Los Angeles 3, New York 2 in 13 innings; St. Louis 3, Chicago 0; Houston 17, Philadelphia 3; Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 0; Colorado 7, Florida 3; and San Diego 7, Montreal 3.

Barry Bonds hit his 580th home run to move within three of Mark McGwire for fifth place on the career list, and the Giants won for the ninth time in 11 games. Tim Worrell (3-0) got the victory.

On Oct. 17, 1989, about a half-hour before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series between the Giants and Oakland Athletics, an earthquake rocked Candlestick Park and left cracks in the concrete. The stadium was evacuated and the World Series did not resume until Oct. 27.

However, most of the players didn't find out about this earthquake until after the game.

``Really? No kidding?'' Giants infielder Damon Minor said when he heard the news. ``I missed my chance. That would have been my first one, too.''

After the bottom of the ninth ended with the score tied, the stadium sound system played Jerry Lee Lewis' song ``Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.''

``I was sitting upstairs and it was a good jolt,'' fan Jenny Hsin said. ``At first I thought it was the guy behind me kicking my chair, then I looked and saw the whole row shaking with me. I can't say I was scared because I didn't know what was happening. By the time it ended I knew what it was and I thought, `That was kind of fun.'''