First, two quick programming notes:
- Our rewatch of the 2010 postseason continues today, with Game 2 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. We’ll be rewatching at 6 p.m. PT, with a gamethread at 5:30.
- Starting tomorrow, we will have Sunday BPs.
Now, with that said, yesterday I started a segment in the BPs called “Did Barry Bonds hit a home run today?” in which I’d reminisce about any home runs that Barry Bonds might have hit on this day in history.
It’s supposed to just be a fun little note at the end of articles, but in turns out that Bonds really loved April 18, so we’re just gonna go ahead and make it the meat of the article today. So, with that said . . .
Did Barry Bonds hit a home run today?
Hell yes. Seven home runs, to be exact.
April 18, 1994: Against the Montreal Expos, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 9th inning off of Jeff Shaw. It tied the game 1-1, and the Giants would win 2-1 in 11 innings, when Bonds scored on a walk-off single by Mark Carreon. It was his 5th home run of the year.
April 18, 1996: Against the Chicago Cubs, Bonds hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning off of Frank Castillo, scoring Marvin Benard. It cut the Giants deficit to 5-3, and they ultimately lost 7-6. It was his 6th home run of the year.
April 18, 2000: Against the Cincinnati Reds, Bonds hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning off of Ron Villone, scoring Russ Davis. It gave the Giants a 2-0 lead, en route to a 13-9 victory. It was his 6th home run of the year.
April 18, 2001: Against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 7th inning off of Chan Ho Park. It gave the Giants a 5-4 lead that they held for the rest of the game. It was his 7th home run of the year, and his 6th straight game with a home run.
April 18, 2004: Against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 4th inning off of Jeff Weaver and then, for good measure, a 2-run home run in the 6th inning off of Weaver, scoring Marquis Grissom. The solo shot gave the Giants a 2-1 lead, and the second dinger cut the deficit in half, and pulled the Giants to within 7-5. They lost 7-6. They were his 6th and 7th home runs of the year.
April 18, 2007: Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 8th inning off of Ryan Franklin. It tied the game 5-5, and the Giants won 6-5 in 12 innings. It was his 4th home run of the year.
Giants links
Fabulous McCovey Chronicles alumnus Roger Munter digs into the LHP depth of the farm (There R Giants)
Grant Brisbee (also a fabulous McCovey Chronicles alum, if you want to call him that) ranks 50-46 in his countdown of the greatest home runs in Giants history (The Athletic, subscription required)
Podcast: Alex Pavlovic talks with pitching prospect Logan Webb (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Video: McCovey Chronicles legend Carmen Kiew, along with Cole Kuiper, Therese Vinal, and Anthony Garcia hang out with Hunter Pence and Alexis Pence (Shelter on Base)
Podcast: John Shea talks with manager Gabe Kapler (SF Chronicle)
John Shea on Will Clark jumping into a coach’s meeting (SF Chronicle)