Bonds Looks For Another
A.J. Burnett has been outstanding against the San Francisco Giants, but he hasn’t had to deal with Barry Bonds in three years.
After ending a 12-game stretch without a homer, Bonds looks to help the Giants avoid yet another loss to Burnett when they face the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle game of their series Tuesday night.
Oddsmakers have made Toronto -120 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 8 total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 65% of bets for this game have been placed on Toronto -120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Bonds hit his 747th home run as San Francisco (29-34) beat Toronto (30-33) 4-3 on Monday night, moving within nine of passing Hank Aaron’s record.
The star left fielder hadn’t homered in 33 at-bats, hitting his last round-tripper on May 27 against Colorado. He had hit only one home run in 77 at-bats after a shot off New York Mets left-hander Tom Glavine on May 8.
"You know it’s just a matter of time," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He’s going to get it against somebody."
Bonds’ 13th homer of the season provided a lift for last-place San Francisco, which ended a six-game home losing streak and a 21-inning scoreless stretch.
"We needed a shot in the arm and he gave it to us," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
San Francisco is 6-1 all-time against the Blue Jays – including 4-0 at home – but it may have a tough time building on Monday’s win.
Burnett (5-5, 4.01 ERA) has won his last four starts against the Giants, posting a 0.59 ERA in that span. He is 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA in six career starts against them.
The right-hander, though, did not face Bonds in his last two games against San Francisco.
Bonds was recovering from right knee surgery in 2005, the last time Burnett faced the Giants. Burnett was pitching for Florida then, going 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA in two starts against San Francisco that season.
Bonds is 2-for-8 with one home run and four walks against Burnett.
In his last start, Burnett gave up three runs and seven hits while striking out a season-high 13 in seven innings as Toronto lost 5-3 to Tampa Bay on Thursday. He’s struck out 25 in his last two outings and recorded at least 10 in four of his last six starts.
Burnett has a 3.63 ERA in his last three outings, but is 0-2 in that span as Toronto has given him a total of five runs to work with.
The Giants will counter with Noah Lowry (5-5, 3.49 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts. The left-hander gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision as San Francisco beat Arizona 5-4 on Thursday night.
Lowry will be facing a Toronto team that has scored three runs or less in five of its last six games. This will be his first appearance against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays slugger Frank Thomas made his first return to the Bay Area since leaving Oakland in the offseason. He flied out to deep left as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
Thomas’ role will be limited this series because he is a designated hitter and the Blue Jays are in an NL park.
by: Dave Michaels – thespread.com – Email Us
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