Giants Do Best to Keep Heat On

SAN FRANCISCO —  Barry Bonds praised his teammates for their clutch play while he’s been busy walking all season, then watched them go out and do most of the work Tuesday night.

Pedro Feliz matched his career high with four runs batted in, and Brett Tomko won his sixth consecutive decision in the San Francisco Giants’ 9-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Bonds, who had two days to rest after being held out of the lineup Sunday and getting a team day off Monday, drove in a run to help the Giants win for the eighth time in nine games but also was plunked in the right shin by Houston reliever Russ Springer in the eighth.

San Francisco ended Houston’s four-game winning streak to maintain a half-game lead in the National League wild-card race over the Chicago Cubs. The Astros dropped two games back.

The Giants began the night 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Before the game, the Giants announced they would drop their right to void the last year of Bonds’ contract, meaning the slugger will have at least two more seasons with San Francisco to break Hank Aaron’s career home run record of 755.

Deivi Cruz had three hits, drove in two runs and scored twice for San Francisco, and Dustan Mohr singled three times and scored twice.

Bonds remained at 701 homers, finishing 0 for 3 with his 107th intentional walk.

Tomko, coming off a four-hitter in an 8-1 victory at Milwaukee last Wednesday, struck out five and walked three. He gave way to Jim Brower with two out in the ninth after walking Lance Berkman.