A live update of all of Barry Bonds' plate appearances in Saturday night's game at Citizens Bank Park.
First inning
Amidst cascading boos, Bonds strolled to the plate with two outs in the first to face starting pitcher Ryan Madson, though it was hard to tell whether the fans were greeting the star-crossed slugger or letting right fielder Bobby Abreu have it for allowing Pedro Feliz's soft fly ball to drop in for a single.
With a sprinkling of boos, Bonds trotted to first after drawing a five-pitch walk. The fans couldn't have been that angry, though. The flashbulbs from cameras popped like lightning bugs as Madson delivered every pitch.
As Bonds led off first base, he likely heard the "Barry cheated!" chant that made it through three rounds before running out of steam.
Not surprisingly, Bonds was booed as he settled into his position in left field. A small pocket of fans shouted "Cheater!"but there were no banners like on Friday night, and the crowd is relatively behaved. Even the loud chorus of boos from when Bonds robbed Jimmy Rollins from an extra-base hit weren't very heartfelt.
Then again, steroid accusations or not, Bonds was probably the best fielding left fielder in baseball history. Those days have passed, though.
Inning highlights: Carlos Ruiz, in his first ever inning of Major League ball, threw out Randy Winn attempting to steal second base for the second out of the inning.
Between Bonds AB press-box banter: Cole Hamels gets called up after Sunday's start. Geoff Geary heads down. Ryan Madson moves to the 'pen and Hamels first start is next Saturday at Cincinnati.
Third inning Guess what? Bonds gets booed as he walks to the plate. The umps stop the game to put special, authenticated balls in play. Madson promptly throws one of them and gets Bonds to ground into a 6-5-3 double play with Pedro Feliz on first.
Between Bonds AB press-box banter: Who is the Kansas City Royals' All-Star right now?
Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
Fifth inning Before the top of the fifth started, Aaron Rowand had some very harsh words for home-plate umpire Greg Gibson after he grounded out to third base to start the bottom of the fourth. In fact, Rowand was so incensed that he dashed out of the dugout to take up his case -- filled with curse words, of course -- with the ump.
Not shockingly, Rowand was ejected. It will be interesting to hear what the loquacious center fielder has to say about his ouster following the game.
Back to Bonds:
Boos for Bonds. No signs, though. New, authenticated balls, too.
First pitch fastball for strike one... breaking pitch inside for ball one... high and outside with flashbulbs popping for ball two ... changeup a little high, but Bonds seemed to swing late and sent a high fly just short of the track in left field where Pat Burrell catches it. Third out.
Bonds should get at least one more at-bat, but the national media horde chasing the slugger around is preparing to send their stories about how the chase for Babe Ruth's mark will have to wait at least another day.
Eighth inning Charlie Manuel says that it appears as if Bonds does not have his timing down yet. Battling injuries and other sideshow-type things -- if one wants to call a federal grand jury inquiry a "sideshow" -- Bonds' swing isn't where he wants it to be, Manuel said.
He's close though.
"His timing is off. He needs to play a bit more," Manuel said. "He's close though. He can get it back as soon as he leaves here."
He gets to test his timing against lefty Arthur Rhodes following Pedro Feliz's leadoff single, but falls in the hole, 0-1, after Rhodes drops a fastball on the inside corner... a breaking pitch misses outside for ball one ... big swing from the slugger for strike two... another huge swing sends a high fly into center. Shane Victorino settles under it and then gives chase. The winds wreaks havoc with it and sends it to short left field where it oddly drops in for a single.
The hit brings the tying run to the plate with no outs.
That very well could occur now after Steve Finley's hot grounder heading toward Ryan Howard at first for a probable double play, strikes Bonds on the leg for the first out. It could have been unintentional, but Bonds thwarted a potential rally-killing double play.
The smart play is greeted with some halfhearted boos when Bonds casually walked off the field.
So aside from a few "Barry Sucks!" chants (yes, we know... lame), the evening ended without incident. Based upon last night's post-game I'd say it's a better than 99.9 percent chance that Bonds skips out without talking to the press.
Oh well. Let's do it again tomorrow night.