Bonds Stands Pat After Mental Error

National League

Booed by Giants fans for standing in place while a ball flew over his head for a two-run double in a 7-2 loss Monday to the New York Mets in San Francisco, Barry Bonds challenged his critics to do better.

“I don’t care what they think. They ain’t out there. They don’t really know what’s going on out there,” said Bonds, whose salary is more than $8 million this season. “If they can do better, bring your (butt) out there. If you’re better than me, you can come out there and put my uniform on and do it.”

San Francisco, which entered the game as the best fielding team in the National League, made five errors on a wind-swept afternoon that turned every popup into an adventure.

And that doesn’t include Bonds’ mental error in left field in the first inning.

Bonds often stands motionless on balls destined for the left-field stands, but Stinnett’s liner bounced off the wall and made Bonds scramble to recover the ball and throw out David Segui going from first to third.

Stinnett said he was surprised by Bonds’ reaction.

“I knew I hit it hard. I knew it’d be off the wall or go out,” Stinnett said. “Barry didn’t move, so I thought it was gone. Then I saw it go off the top of the wall.”

Dodgers 3, Expos 1

Los Angeles

Billy Ashley hit a two-run single, just his fifth hit in 36 at-bats, and Delino DeShields also singled home a run in the second inning as Los Angeles beat Montreal.

Dodgers starter Ramon Martinez (6-3) returned to form, allowing a run and four hits in seven innings after surrendering seven earned runs in each of his previous two starts.

Braves 7, Cubs 5

Atlanta

Atlanta found a way to win when Mark Lemke became the unlikely hero.

Lemke, his average below .200, delivered a two-run triple in the seventh inning as Atlanta ended a five-game losing streak.

Reds 3, Pirates 2

Cincinnati

Slumping Mark Lewis had three hits, including a misplayed pop-up that produced the go-ahead run and handed Cincinnati its victory over Pittsburgh.

Lewis, who started the game in an 0-for-11 slump, had a pair of singles and a bloop double to set up the Reds’ 12th victory in 14 games.

Astros 6, Marlins 5

Houston

Craig Biggio’s three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning rallied Houston to a win over Florida.

Robb Nen (0-3) retired Houston’s first two batters in the ninth before walking pinch-hitter Dave Magadan on four pitches and John Cangelosi on five. Biggio then hit a 2-1 pitch over the left-field scoreboard for his fifth homer of the season.

Padres 5, Phils 4 (10)

San Diego

Pinch-hitter Phil Clark hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the 10th inning to lift San Diego over Philadelphia.

The Phillies, who hadn’t lost two straight until their 34th and 35th games, have now lost four straight.

Cardinals 9, Rockies 5

Denver

Mark Petkovsek earned his first victory since 1993 as St. Louis ended Colorado’s four-game winning streak .

Petkovsek (1-1), who also collected his first major league hit and RBI, pitched into the seventh, giving up four runs on eight hits with no walks.

Clearing the bases

San Francisco activated right-hander William VanLandingham from the disabled list and sent infielder Joel Chimelis back to Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League… . Colorado pitcher Bill Swift was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder.