Relaxed Bonds surprises Mariners’ Hernandez

PEORIA, Ariz. – Barry Bonds made a rare spring training trip and was in a jovial mood.

Bonds went 1 for 2 with a double and a strikeout Wednesday in a San Francisco Giants split squad’s 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners.

He made the 45-minute trek across metropolitan Phoenix after missing three games because of a bad cold. He blew a kiss in the direction of the Mariners dugout before his first at-bat, then blooped his second pitch from Felix Hernandez to shallow left field.

As the ball landed between third baseman Mike Morse and left fielder Raul Ibanez, the 42-year-old Bonds kept running to second base. His popup slide easily beat Ibanez’s throw, and seemed to surprise the Mariners and even his teammates.

“Yeah, that was a good-looking run,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He feels great. He’s happy with the way his legs are feeling.”

It showed. After Bengie Molina lined out to end the first inning, Bonds exchanged a smile and a handshake with Hernandez when their paths crossed at the third-base line.

“How are you?” Bonds asked Hernandez.

“That’s never happened to me before,” the 20-year-old Hernandez said later, marveling.

In the third, Hernandez struck out Bonds. That drew a roar from the crowd, and a congratulations from teammates in the dugout.