Bonds makes history as Giants fall

By The Associated Press

Barry Bonds would gladly trade home runs for wins.

Bonds became the most prolific left-handed home run hitter in NL history Wednesday night, connecting twice for the San Francisco Giants in a 4-3 loss to Arizona.

With 522 homers, Bonds moved past Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey into 11th place on baseball's career list.

Bonds shook hands with McCovey, who was sitting in the front row at Pacific Bell Park, after hitting his major league-leading 28th homer.

"It's a great honor to be able to have that accomplishment," Bonds said. "But we're in the business of trying to get back in the postseason."

The Giants have lost five of six games. Arizona has won six in a row.

"It's really hard when you're not winning games right now," Bonds said. "You're losing one-run games, or you're not being able to score in opportunities you would have normally done in the past."

Bonds hit a high drive into McCovey Cove in the second inning. He connected for a two-run shot in the sixth.

"I'm glad he was able to do it at home while I was here to see it in person," McCovey said.

Bonds hit 17 home runs in May, breaking the record of 16 set by Mark McGwire in 1998 and Mickey Mantle in 1956.

Athletics 15, Devil Rays 2

Jason Giambi had a long homer and drove in three runs, and Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer as Oakland routed visiting Tampa Bay.

Miguel Tejada also hit a three-run homer as the Athletics pounded Albie Lopez (3-6), who lost his fifth straight decision, and the Devil Rays' bullpen for 17 hits.

Mark Mulder (7-2) won his fifth straight decision despite allowing nine hits in five innings.

Mariners 12, Orioles 5

David Bell homered and drove in three runs, and Mark McLemore tied a team record with four steals as host Seattle won its seventh straight.

The Mariners improved their record to a major league-best 39-12. After 51 games, only six teams in history had better starts than the Mariners.