Bonds' quest for 756 will have to wait

AN FRANCISCO — It's one mere pitch, joining the 755 others hit for home runs by Barry Bonds, but the next one will leave a lasting image that can be cruel to a pitching career.

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Washington Nationals rookie pitcher John Lannan, making only his third major league start, made sure Monday night he wouldn't become the Al Downing of his generation.

Lannan, a 22-year-old left-hander who opened the year in Class A, faced Bonds four times and survived to tell about it. Bonds, facing 88- to 90-mph fastballs, changeups and curveballs, couldn't hit the ball out of the infield, going hitless in three at-bats with a walk in his first game since tying Hank Aaron atop baseball's career home run list Saturday.

The Giants won 3-2 in 11 innings Monday with Bonds out of the game, sending 43,052 fans, 450 reporters, Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Frank Robinson and about three dozen kayaks in McCovey Cove home waiting on history.
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Bonds struck out in his final at-bat against Lannan.

"I was just trying to keep my composure and follow the game plan," Lannan said. "I was just trying to keep the team in it and go out there and make my pitches."

That final at-bat with a runner on first and two outs in the seventh inning was the most dramatic. Lannan fell behind 3-1 to Bonds, but still challenged him.

Lannan threw an 89 mph fastball by the slugger and then struck him out on a curveball, showing rare poise for a newcomer.

"I thought he pitched him well the whole game," said manager Manny Acta, who showed confidence in Lannan by keeping him in the game to face Bonds that final time.

Lannan, who gave up eight hits and one run in seven innings, knows he won't be etched in baseball folklore. Downing was a fine pitcher, winning 20 games in 1971, but he will be remembered as the one who gave up Aaron's then-record 715th homer.

"I still get whiplash every time I watch that videotape," Downing said. "I don't think anybody saw Babe Ruth's homer. But they remember Hank's.

"And they'll remember this one."

Said Nationals closer Chad Cordero, "I don't want to be the guy giving up the home run and seeing yourself on the highlights forever."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the victim of Bonds' 756th home run shouldn't be ridiculed, citing Bonds' long-ball proficiency off the likely Hall of Fame trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

"They're not scarred," Bochy said.