National League
Barry Bonds made quite a splash with his latest home run into McCovey Cove.
He matched his godfather Willie Mays and moved into third place on the career home run list with No. 660, a three-run shot that helped the San Francisco Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 on Monday.
"It was like a weight was just lifted off my shoulders," Bonds said. "I felt a sense of accomplishment in baseball. It's a relief now to be able to stand next to my godfather and finally feel like I've accomplished something in the game of baseball. It was a big way of getting his approval that I've finally done something."
Bonds connected in the fifth inning on a 3-1 pitch from Matt Kinney (0-1) for his second homer of the season. The estimated 442-foot blast put the Giants ahead 5-4. It was the 28th time Bonds has homered into the water.
Mays, who turns 73 next month, hurried on to the field to congratulate Bonds, giving his godson a hug and a kiss outside the dugout.
The sellout crowd of 42,548 cheered, "Barry! Barry!" and gave him a standing ovation. They seemed to forget about the steroid controversy surrounding their star slugger and his personal trainer.
"I think this is probably the icing on the cake," Bonds said. "I really wish my dad could have been here to be part of it ... I just really can't believe it, being 4 years old when my dad came up into the major leagues and having an idol like Willie Mays take me under his wing, and now being up in front of all of you people answering questions what it's like to tie the man you respected and honored your entire life."
Mays has been a mentor to Bonds since the slugger's father, Bobby, died last August.
Hank Aaron leads the career list with 755 home runs, followed by Babe Ruth with 714.
Pirates 13, Cubs 2
At Chicago, Kris Benson allowed one hit in six superb innings, outpitching a wild and ineffective Greg Maddux in the Cubs' first game at Wrigley Field since losing last year's NL championship series.
Maddux (0-2) left the Cubs in 1992 after winning the first of four straight Cy Young Awards, signing with the Atlanta Braves. He lasted only 3 2-3 innings, giving up five walks, eight hits and six runs.
Benson (1-0) gave up a first-inning infield single and two unearned runs.
Reds 4, Phillies 1
At Philadelphia, Reds starter Paul Wilson allowed just one run over 7 1-3 innings in the first game at Citizens Bank Park.
D'Angelo Jimenez got the first hit, a ground-rule double down the right-field line on the fourth pitch of the game from Randy Wolf (0-1).
Bobby Abreu hit the first home run at the new park for the Phillies, off to a 1-6 start.
Mets 10, Braves 6
At New York, newcomers Kaz Matsui and Mike Cameron each drove in two runs, and Steve Trachsel was terrific on the mound and at the plate in the Mets' victory.
Todd Zeile added three hits as a makeshift lineup roughed up Mike Hampton (0-1) in building a 10-0 lead.
New York played without Cliff Floyd, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps, and Mike Piazza, out of the lineup because of a sore right elbow.
Trachsel (1-1) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, and also drove in two runs.
Rockies 7, Diamondbacks 4
At Denver, the Rockies rallied for four runs in the seventh inning, capitalizing on the wildness of Arizona's relievers.
The Rockies erased a 3-0 deficit and had just one hit in their winning rally. Colorado loaded the bases with a single and two walks off Mike Koplove (0-1), then Koplove walked in a run. Jose Valverde relieved and hit a batter and threw two wild pitches -- all allowed runs to score.
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