SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds was intentionally walked three times to set the single-season record, and Brett Tomko took a shutout into the eighth inning to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 Saturday night.
The three intentional walks gave Bonds 71 before the All-Star break, topping his own record established in 2002 when he was walked 68 times over the entire season. Hall of Famer Willie McCovey held the record with 45 in 1969 before Bonds.
Bonds, who has walked a total of 131 times, has more intentional walks than any team in the major leagues. The St. Louis Cardinals are next with 40.
Tim Olson had two of Arizona's four hits as the Diamondbacks lost their fifth in six games.
J.T. Snow hit a two-run homer as the Giants won their third in four games to remain a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Tomko (4-5) did not allow a runner past first base through seven innings and retired 10 of 11 at one point. He gave up one run on five hits and did not walk a batter in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Scott Eyre got the final out of the eighth with a runner on first, and Matt Herges pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 28 opportunities.
Brandon Webb (3-9) is winless in his last seven starts and is 1-8 over his last 14. His last victory came against the Giants on June 3 despite allowing three or fewer runs in each of his last eight starts.
Webb lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking five and striking out six.
The Diamondbacks have been struggling on the road, losing 11 of their last 12. Overall, Arizona has not won a series since June 11-13 in Toronto, nor has it put together two consecutive victories since June 10-11.
Webb shut down the Giants on two hits through the first four innings before giving up a double to Tomko leading off the fifth. Two outs later, Snow drove a 2-0 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his third homer.
The Giants loaded the bases against Webb in the seventh, ending his night. Randy Choate came in and gave up A.J. Pierzynski's sacrifice fly, the 19th straight outing he has retired the first batter he's faced.
Olson doubled and Juan Brito singled to open the eighth to produce Arizona's run.
Notes
- Diamondbacks INF Shea Hillenbrand missed the game with a sore right hamstring.
- Arizona C Brent Mayne, recovering from a back strain, is rehabbing in the minors and is expected to rejoin the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
- The Giants honored former broadcaster Lon Simmons, the 2004 Ford Frick Award winner, with a brief ceremony before game. The Giants also posthumously honored Hall of Famer Russ Hodges by retiring his microphone.
- Tomko had his eighth career double.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
