Kent Drives Giants By Phils

The Philadelphia Phillies finally kept Barry Bonds from beating them with homers. But they couldn't prevent him from starting the winning rally for the San Francisco Giants.

Bonds, who hit two homers in each of the previous two games, doubled to lead off the 11th and Jeff Kent followed with a game-winning two-run homer as the Giants won 5-3 Wednesday over the Phillies, who have lost a season-high six straight.

Kent pumped his fist in the air as he watched the ball clear the right-field fence, but it was out of relief as much as celebration.

It was the third straight win by the Giants over the Phillies, and two have come on extra-inning homers. Bonds hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning Monday night to beat Philadelphia.

Bonds led off the 11th Wednesday with a double into the right-field corner and Kent followed with his 17th homer of the season off Wayne Gomes (4-4). Rick Rodriguez (2-0), who also was the winner Monday night, pitched one inning for the victory.

Phillies manager Terry Francona said Gomes knew Kent might try to bunt Bonds to third, so it was difficult to pitch to him.

"The pitch to Kent was a high fastball. In that situation we don't know if he's giving himself up or not. It was a heck of a piece of hitting, though he did get a good pitch to hit," Francona said. "With Bonds at second and Kent up and a lot of guys behind him, he got himself in a bind."

Bonds, who began the day with 14 homers in is previous 16 games, was held to one hit in five at-bats.

Ellis Burks homered for the second straight game for the Giants, who have won five straight and 12 of 14. Burks has 19 homers since returning from the disabled list on June 26. He was sidelined with inflammation in his right knee.

Burks hit a two-run homer over the left-field bleachers in the second, his 26th of the season, and Bill Mueller added an RBI groundout in the third.

The Phillies tied it with three runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Jordan and a two-run single by Gary Bennett.

Bobby Abreu extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a single in the fourth, the longest streak by a Phillies player this year.

Philadelphia is within one loss of the fifth 0-7 road trip in franchise history.

Livan Hernandez, who still has never won a game in September, allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings for the Giants. He struck out the side in order in the fifth and had six strikeouts overall.

Philadelphia's Mike Grace, who was recalled from the minors earlier in the day, allowed three runs on four hits with six walks and six strikeouts in five innings in his first major league start since Aug. 23, 1998.

Notes