Bonds Admits La Russa’s Not His Pal

National League

The war of words continues between Barry Bonds and Tony La Russa.

On Sunday, the Giants star outfielder told San Francisco media of his disdain for the St. Louis Cardinals manager, saying “It’s no secret, man. We don’t like each other.”

On Monday, La Russa said playing great isn’t enough for players of Bonds’ ilk.

“Nowadays you like to see the great talents be real well-rounded as far as how they are with fans, how they are with teammates and all that kind of stuff,” La Russa said. “If you’re a great talent, you’ve got a responsibility to be more than just a guy who produces numbers.”

Bonds and La Russa clashed last September. With a runner on first and one out in the eighth inning, Bonds hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to break a tie and give the Giants a 4-2 victory.

Afterward he wondered why La Russa wouldn’t have intentionally walked him, and La Russa barked back: “Is he good enough to play left field and manage the other team?”

La Russa said Monday he had to pitch to Bonds in that situation.

“I could have gotten fired if I’d have walked him because it would have been such bad baseball,” La Russa said.

Actually, Bonds said the two haven’t gotten along since 1993. He claimed La Russa, then managing the Oakland Athletics, turned his back on him during the Bay Bridge series.

“From that day on, there’s no love lost there,” Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle.

La Russa denied that, but admitted kicking Bonds out of the Cardinals’ clubhouse on the Giants’ first trip to St. Louis last season.

“The visiting team doesn’t belong in the clubhouse and that’s just for anybody,” La Russa said.

Cardinals 5, Giants 2

St. Louis

Andy Benes, out since early in spring training with a rib-cage muscle injury, won his first start as St. Louis beat San Francisco on Monday night.

Benes, an 18-game winner last season, threw 102 pitches in five innings.

The Cardinals had an easy time with Bonds, who went 0 for 3. La Russa had Bonds intentionally walked with a runner on second and one out in the first inning, and Bonds, facing an exaggerated infield shift, struck out in the third and fifth, then tapped out to first in the seventh.

Braves 14, Dodgers 0

Atlanta

Tom Glavine allowed only three hits in seven innings and Jeff Blauser and Javy Lopez hit two-run homers as Atlanta routed Los Angeles.

Blauser went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .411. His third homer of the year came in the fifth, a drive to deep center that gave Atlanta an 8-0 lead.

Mets 15, Reds 2

Cincinnati

Todd Hundley and Butch Huskey homered to open a seven-run inning - New York’s biggest in more than a year - as the Mets rolled over Cincinnati.

The Mets batted around for five runs in the third inning, then sent 11 batters to the plate for seven runs in the fifth against the N.L.’s worst pitching staff.

Marlins 12, Padres 9

Miami

Moises Alou and Gary Sheffield hit grand slams for Florida, which blew a four-run lead then rallied to hand San Diego its sixth consecutive loss.

Pirates 9, Phillies 4 (12)

Philadelphia

Kevin Elster’s RBI single ignited a six-run 12th inning that sent Pittsburgh past Philadelphia.

Rockies 7, Astros 6 (10)

Houston

Vinny Castilla hit his eighth homer of the season with two outs in the 10th inning to lift Colorado past Houston.

Cubs 5, Expos 2

Chicago

Terry Mulholland earned his first victory of the season, and Chicago gained its first triumph by a left-handed starter since 1993 by defeating Montreal.

Clearing the bases

Jason Isringhausen underwent more extensive tests in New York after diagnostic tests revealed a spot on one of the injured Mets pitcher’s lungs… . Cincinnati catcher Eddie Taubensee has had four passed balls in the last three games… . Montreal’s Mark Grudzielanek extended his hitting streak to 14 games and he has had a two-base hit in 12 of the 14… . Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell was named player of the week.