No one has ever hit 48 homers in so few games. No opponent has ever hit so many homers at Cinergy Field in a career.

Barry Bonds had 3 hits and 3 RBI. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Barry Bonds won't talk about his first breakthrough. He can't explain the second.

        “Some ballparks you play well in, some you don't,” he said, shrugging off his latest big moment in the riverfront stadium.

        Bonds led off the 11th inning with a homer, touching off a six-run rally that swept the San Francisco Giants to a 9-3 victory Tuesday night over theReds.

        He reached the 48-homer mark faster than anyone in major league history — 113 games, one fewer than Babe Ruth in 1921. He's also way ahead of Mark McGwire's pace from his record 70-homer season — Big Mac didn't reach 48 until the 124th game.

        “Any of you talk home runs, I'm walking,” Bonds said, refusing to think about it. “I definitely don't want to get that started.”

        Sorry, Barry. Every home run is going to bring the comparisons — to Ruth, to McGwire and to Mike Schmidt.

        Mike Schmidt?

        Until Tuesday, Schmidt and Bonds shared the stadium record for most homers by a visitor — 29.

        After Jason Christiansen (2-1) got Ken Griffey Jr. to hit into a double play to help preserve the 3-all tie in the 10th, Bonds broke the tie off Danny Graves (5-3). He dedicated his breakthrough homer to Christiansen, who got the victory by escaping a two-on, none-out threat against the heart of the Reds' order.

        “That was excellent,” Christiansen said. “He said that one was for me. I appreciate that. At least he's not yelling to me from the other dugout: "That one's off you.”'

        The Giants' 11th victory in 12 games moved them into second place in the NL West, one game behind Los Angeles and a half-game ahead of Arizona. The Giants also took the lead in the wild card race.

        “That's good,” manager Dusty Baker said. “I like being in the lead of something.”

        Giants Notes: Kirk Rueter made an emergency start in place of Jason Schmidt, who had the flu. Rueter had a pair of hits and gave up two runs in six innings before getting sapped by the heat. Schmidt expects to start Wednesday. ... The Giants put Shawon Dunston on the DL with a sprained right ankle and activated J.T. Snow, who had a pinch single in the 11th.

Giants 9, Reds 3 Bonds' 48th HR sets Cinergy mark SULLIVAN: Still no conclusion to Rose saga Chronology of Rose case Season over for Larkin, Harnisch Larkin: SS is only spot open for me Rijo focusing on relief Reds to honor Davis Reds box, runs

Smith must pass passing test
LeBeau uses bench to emphasize point
Doughty AWOL from camp
Wyoming star Hall now a Bearcat
Las Vegas tourneys shift to high school
Tennis Masters loses Safin, Enqvist
Tennis Masters schedule, results
Becker draws overflow crowd
Sampras looks frisky in romp
Tennis losing grip on Rafter
Ousted Safin: 'I'm just bad'
Spain's Ferrero rising star
England's eyes focused on Henman
Heat is tournament's hot topic
Tennis Masters Notebook
Tennis Masters facts
40,000-plus expected for IRL race

• Return to Reds front page...