A Walk in the Park for Bonds

SAN FRANCISCO —  Barry Bonds is advising Rickey Henderson not to try to make a comeback simply to regain the walks record.

“If he comes back, he will never catch me,” Bonds said with a chuckle.

Bonds became baseball’s all-time walks leader, breaking Henderson’s major league record when he drew his 2,191st from Chad Bradford in the eighth inning of the San Francisco Giants’ 9-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday at SBC Park.

The six-time National League most valuable player then strolled to first base and picked up the bag to save as a memento of his latest amazing milestone.

“I don’t know how to react to a walks record,” said Bonds, who struck out to end the game. “It’s just another one. I’d rather hit, but the circumstances, it’s just what it is. I need a ring with all these other records.”

Eric Byrnes hit two three-run home runs and finished with six runs batted in, a career high; and Mark Mulder won his ninth consecutive decision, a career best, for the A’s.

On his record-breaking walk, Bonds fell behind 0-and-2 then drew four consecutive balls. He received a standing ovation, then went to retrieve the base. What will he do with it?

“I haven’t decided yet.... I just got it today,” he said.

Bonds walked on a 3-and-2 pitch from Mulder leading off the sixth inning to tie Henderson. Bonds was plunked on the right hand in the second inning and threw his bat down in pain, but stayed in the game. He hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and struck out to end the game.

“That’s incredible,” Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda said. “I never thought anybody was going to break it. That’s unreal. Barry’s a cleanup hitter. Henderson was a leadoff hitter who’s supposed to walk. Wow. Unbelievable. Awesome!”

Bonds, the most feared slugger in the game, has been drawing walks at a remarkable rate in recent years as few teams are willing to challenge him. He already has 121 walks in the Giants’ first 82 games -- including 63 intentional passes -- and is on pace to shatter his single-season record of 198 set in 2002.

Mulder made it clear he wasn’t trying to hit fellow All-Star Bonds. Bonds was selected by the fans to start for the National League, and Mulder was chosen by players, mangers and coaches for the American League squad.

“I hit Bonds with a 2-1 fastball going in,” Mulder said. “Unfortunately I got him on the hand. I’m not trying to hit him there. He’s right on the plate, and I’m just trying to come inside. With him, guys tend to overthrow things because he’s so good.”

On June 29 last year, Byrnes hit for the cycle in San Francisco with Mulder on the mound. He is batting .483 (14 for 29) with three home runs and nine RBIs at SBC Park.

“I love hitting here. It’s comfy,” he said.

Mulder (11-2) got double plays in the first and second innings. He hit Ray Durham in the fifth to load the bases, then gave up Deivi Cruz’s run-scoring single that pulled the Giants to within 5-3 before Marquis Grissom grounded into a double play.

San Francisco reliever Tyler Walker was ejected in the sixth for hitting Mulder with a pitch on his right side, causing Manager Felipe Alou to charge out and scream for several minutes at the umpires because the benches hadn’t been warned. Then Felix Rodriguez was ejected in the eighth for hitting Byrnes, and Alou was also thrown out for arguing.

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Strolling Along

Barry Bonds became the all-time walks leader Sunday. The top 10, with average walks per 162 games:

*--* No. Player Seasons Walks Avg. 1. BARRY BONDS 19 2,191 134 2. Rickey Henderson 25 2,190 115 3. Babe Ruth 22 2,062 133 4. Ted Williams 19 2,021 143 5. Joe Morgan 22 1,865 114 6. Carl Yastrzemski 23 1,845 90 7. Mickey Mantle 18 1,733 117 8. Mel Ott 22 1,708 101 9. Eddie Yost 18 1,614 124 10. Darrell Evans 21 1,605 97 Next-highest active player: 19. Frank Thomas 15 1,449 122

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