Rays/MLB

NL: Bonds socks first at home, 710th of career

By Wire services
Published April 26, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO - Giants leftfielder Barry Bonds hit his second home run of the season and first at home Tuesday night, sending a 1-and-1 pitch from Mets starter Steve Trachsel into the leftfield seats for the 710th of his career.

Bonds, 41, nursing a tender surgically repaired right knee and a swollen left elbow, grimaced noticeably as he limped around the bases after his shot to start the second inning, arriving at home plate to chants of "Barry! Barry!"

He returned to play leftfield in the third, waving several times to the cheering fans before tipping his cap in two directions.

Bonds is five homers shy of passing Babe Ruth for second all-time.

The game had not been completed by press time. For the result, visit www.tampabay.com

Earlier, Bonds' personal trainer was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating whether he committed perjury, the San Jose Mercury News reported. On its Web site, the newspaper reported that a spokeswoman for Greg Anderson's attorney confirmed the trainer and BALCO coconspirator had received the subpoena.

CARDS STAR SICK: St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen did not play after visiting a doctor for a bout of bronchitis. Trainer Barry Weinberg said Rolen would be kept away from the ballpark as a precaution.

PROSPECT SIDELINED: First baseman Brad Eldred, one of the Pirates' top hitting prospects, will be sidelined at least four months after surgery revealed a fracture of the joint and damage to the ligament in his left thumb.

DIAGNOSIS FOR HELTON: Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who was hospitalized last week with stomach cramps and a fever, has acute terminal ileitis, an inflammation near the end of the small intestine.

NATIONALS ACE HURT: Washington right-hander John Patterson will miss his scheduled start Thursday with a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. Patterson has a 3.86 ERA in four starts and entered Tuesday third in the NL with 32 strikeouts.

[Last modified April 26, 2006, 01:22:18]