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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Barry Bonds hit another Opening-Day home
run and threw out Tony Gwynn at home plate.
Which was better?
|  | | Livan Hernandez notched his third career Opening-Day win – second with the Giants – 3-2 Monday over the Padres. |
"I can't say it's throwing out Tony, because he's like 45,"
Bonds said after the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres
3-2 Monday.
Bonds, eligible for free agency after this season, hit his 495th
career home run in the fifth. It was his third Opening-Day homer,
which surprised him.
"I don't keep track of stuff like that," he said. "The only
time I see it is when it's posted on the scoreboard."
When Bonds returned to left field in the sixth inning, the fans
in the bleachers gave him a standing ovation and chanted "Barry!
Barry!" Bonds acknowledged them with a tip of his cap.
"It's nice," Bonds said about the reception. "But I think
they appreciate the wins. That's the main thing."
It's only a matter of time before Bonds joins the 500-homer
club.
"We know that Barry's five away," Giants manager Dusty Baker
said. "Sooner or later it's going to happen. I just hope he
doesn't put too much pressure on himself."
Giants starter Livan Hernandez gave up both San Diego runs on
six hits in 7 1/3 innings for his third career Opening-Day win.
Hernandez also broke open a scoreless game in the fourth with a
single that scored Bobby Estalella, who had doubled off Woody
Williams with two outs.
Bonds threw out the 40-year-old Gwynn at the plate in the
fourth. Gwynn, who didn't play after June 23 last year and is
coming back from knee surgery, was trying to score from third on
Wiki Gonzalez's single to left.
Gwynn, who was sliding home, clutched his leg after the tag by
catcher Estalella, but returned to right field in the bottom of the
fourth. He went 2-for-4, batting fifth in the order for the first
time since 1983, his second season.
"He stepped right on my thigh. I don't know if I even got to
the plate," Gwynn said of the tag. "I saw the throw was high and
I tried to slide to the inside, but he came right down on me and I
stopped."
Gwynn's RBI single in the eighth gave him 3,110 hits, tying new
Hall of Famer Dave Winfield for 16th on the career list.
"I'm thrilled to death to be playing," Gwynn said. "It's been
8½ months and just being able to step out there – I can't tell you
what a feeling that is," Gwynn said.
Marvin Benard added an RBI single for the Giants in the sixth.
Robb Nen, who had 41 saves last season, struck out the side in
the ninth for the Giants.
Williams gave up all three runs, six hits and five walks in 5
2/3 innings.
"It was too many times through the lineup," Williams said. "I
threw 120 pitches in less than six innings, so I struggled. It's a
shame that played such a big part in the game."
Mike Darr drove in San Diego's first run with a sixth-inning
single.
Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco's jewel of a ballpark with
sweeping bay views, was decked out in bunting for Opening Day
festivities. The field, which had been a concern after the San
Francisco Demons' XFL season, was nearly pristine.
Former Giants first baseman Will Clark got one of the biggest
hands of the day from the sellout crowd when he threw out the first
pitch. San Francisco first base coach Robby Thompson, a rookie with
Clark on the 1986 Giants' squad, caught it.
Game notes
Gwynn became the 16th player with 20 or more seasons with
the same team and made his 18th straight Opening Day start. ...
Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who injured his ankle in a minor
motorcycle accident, was on crutches and wearing a walking cast. ... Hernandez, last year's Opening Day starter, is the
first Giants pitcher to start in consecutive Opening Day games
since John Burkett in 1993-94. ... Giants SS Rich Aurilia was
3-for-5 but made two errors.
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RECAPS
Chi. White Sox 7
Cleveland 4
NY Yankees 7
Kansas City 3
Baltimore 2
Boston 1
Seattle 5
Oakland 4
Atlanta 10
Cincinnati 4
Montreal 5
Chicago Cubs 4
Colorado 8
St. Louis 0
Philadelphia 6
Florida 5
San Francisco 3
San Diego 2
Los Angeles 1
Milwaukee 0
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