Mets 5, Giants 4

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) Barry Bonds and former President Bill Clinton provided quite a power display at Shea Stadium.

Bonds hit two long home runs, giving him 650 in his career, and received standing ovations both times from the crowd which included Clinton. But the New York Mets hung on and beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Tuesday night.

``Amazed? How can you not be?'' New York manager Art Howe said of Bonds. ``This guy looks at times like he's toying with people, hitting in his backyard off his son with a Wiffle ball bat.''

Bonds, who had a sore throat and didn't speak to reporters after the game, leads the majors with 37 homers. He hit a pair of solo shots, and his drive in the ninth moved him within 10 of Willie Mays for third place on the all-time list.

The 39-year-old slugger also got a visit from Clinton, who signed baseballs, shook hands, met with players in both team's clubhouses and then stayed for the entire game.

``I'm a baseball nut, what can I say?'' said Clinton, flanked by several Secret Service agents.

In Bonds' first at-bat in the first inning, Howe had rookie Aaron Heilman (2-5) intentionally walk him. The fans responded with a loud chorus of boos.

``Man, the fans got on me, didn't they?'' Howe said. ``I told the president before the game that I was going to walk Bonds all four times. I probably should have.''

Bonds later made Heilman the 383rd pitcher he's homered against, sending the right-hander's first pitch of the third inning deep to right. Bonds also hit a long single off Heilman in the fifth.

``I didn't feel any awe,'' Heilman said. ``I thought I made some pretty good pitches on him and he let them go. Unfortunately, he swung at my mistakes.''

Bonds also homered off David Weathers in the ninth, but it wasn't enough to keep the NL West leaders from losing for the third time in six games.

``I haven't seen that winning spirit on this team, except for one guy,'' Giants manager Felipe Alou said. ``Maybe it was just jet lag. Barry's an amazing guy at that age. Jet lag doesn't know him.''

The Mets used a three-run second inning against Sidney Ponson (0-2) to jump-start their third victory in five meetings with the Giants this season.

Heilman allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings to snap a three-game personal losing streak. Weathers pitched two innings for his third save in four chances.

``I think this is the type of game you want to pitch in,'' Heilman said. ``You want to face tough hitters and try to make your pitches.''

Jason Phillips was 2-for-4 with a homer, double and a walk, and Jose Reyes was 2-for-4 with an RBI double as the Mets stopped a two-game losing streak. Heilman also contributed on offense with his first major league hit an RBI single in the second.

``It was good to get the first one,'' Heilman said. ``It was even nicer to get an RBI, as well.''

Ponson gave up five runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings in his second start since being acquired from Baltimore. He was 14-6 with a 3.77 ERA with the Orioles, and vows to be a key contributor for San Francisco.

``The Giants saw something in me and I'm 100 percent sure that I will leave the year with a winning record in the National League,'' Ponson said. ``I go out there and do my best, but the way I pitched tonight was the worst I've pitched in a while.''< ^Notes:@ Mets C Mike Piazza, recovering from a severely strained groin, played all nine innings at catcher in Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to Richmond. Piazza will work out with the Mets on Wednesday, and the team will decide before the game if he'll be activated from the DL or continue his rehab at Double-A Binghamton. ... Giants 1B J.T. Snow is doubtful for Wednesday's game with tightness in his left groin. ... Mets interim GM Jim Duquette said the team hopes to sign first-round draft pick Lastings Milledge by the end of the week. The Mets broke off negotiations while they investigated allegations he had sexual contact with young girls when he was in high school.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)