Baseball: Scandal clouds bid for home-run mark

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds hit his 712th career home run yesterday to move within two of the great Babe Ruth in second place on the all-time Major League Baseball list.

Bonds, a 41-year-old left fielder being investigated over whether he lied to a grand jury about using steroids, hit an eighth-inning solo home run to centre field against the San Diego Padres.

Fans rose to their feet cheering as he hit the 3-2 pitch an estimated 130m from home plate and trotted around the bases.

The seven-time most valuable player's latest home run - his fourth of the season - came on the last game of a home series where fans have warmly embraced him.

Fans away from San Francisco have often greeted Bonds coldly since his name was linked to the Balco laboratory doping scandal that landed his personal trainer in prison on steroid distribution charges.

The San Francisco Giants play the Milwaukee Brewers in two games starting today, then three games in Philadelphia before returning home next week.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has said the league will not hold any event to mark the overtaking of Ruth on the all-time record list, the latest sign of how the steroid allegations have clouded Bonds' reputation.

The Giants have promised a commemoration although they have yet to disclose the details.

"I want him to do it as soon as possible - at home - 715 at home," Giants manager Felipe Alou said.

Bonds has tried to downplay the significance of passing Ruth, who hit his last three home runs on the same day in an otherwise lacklustre 1935 season when he was 40.

Bonds said on his website that he was focused only on winning, something his team did not do in a 3-5 loss yesterday.

"I am getting close to Babe Ruth's milestone, but right now my focus is on winning a world series with my team," he wrote.

"If I reach Hank's [Aaron] record, it would be an honour, but again, my focus is on winning games with my team."

- REUTERS