Bonds is Cirque du Soleil Grand Chapiteau at AT&T Park on the verge of tying his

Bonds is analyzes on the reasons verge of tying his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place on the career home run list at 660- he had 659 going into Wednesday night' s game at Houston. Despite the fact he' s coming off a tremendous season, he still has two options left. Luna led off the fifth with a homer off Toronto starter Shaun Marcum, his first homer of the season. The left- hander walked one and struck out five " At one point when I looked up at the scoreboard and we had 10 hits and two or three runs, and they had 10 hits and 10 runs, or something like that. More than 500 fans brought their dogs to the game, part of a promotion by the Reds The dogs sat in the stands along with the 18, 449 fans. The team was 4- 10 under Cooper, but is 13- 4 since Karl took over on Jan.

We just executed back on the court and just did some of the things we' ve been doing all year long, trying to get a win and play better basketball " The competition was far from stiff . Those games were delayed because of the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 . Mangini wanted to do some further investigating and consulted with other players and team leaders to make sure there was no lingering conflict " I said' Was there anything malicious about this? Is there something deeper here " Mangini said " And to a man, they said' No it was nothing like that' He' s a rookie, he' s young He should have put it in the right context I trust the guys I talked to . If I was an everyday player I' d play tomorrow " After allowing Lance Berkman' s solo homer to left with two outs in the first, Maddux retired 12 straight until allowing a single to Bruntlett with two outs in the fifth Bruntlett stole second and was stranded Maddux allowed one run, struck out four and walked none . Rocker would have been conducted by professionals who ran the EAP. Tejada fulfilled his vow to the youngster by hitting the first of three straight Houston home runs in a 7- 4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Tavarez bounced the ball in the dirt near first base to allow Ausmus to reach safely.

I think it will be a great game " Steve Nash, on Game 7 vs . Updated: November 7, 2008, 5: 39 PM ET Foster' Conspiracy theories' could decline if refs could speak to media Comment Email Print Share Associated Press WASHINGTON- Long before the public knew he had been good friends with Tim Donaghy, NBA referee Scott Foster would hear fans routinely say to him " How much money you got on the game tonight " And now, even after he' s been cleared from any wrongdoing in the Donaghy betting scandal, Foster can' t help but wonder: Why are fans so suspicious of NBA refs " When a referee in another professional sport makes an error, it' s human error " Foster said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press " When a referee in the NBA makes an error, it' s some sort of preconceived notion, and that' s what' s so frustrating It' s almost like NBA referees are not human . Fast Facts# 8226& nbsp; Orlando snapped a three- game losing streak against San Antonio and won for just the fourth time in its last 15 tries against the Spurs# 8226& nbsp; Dwight Howard( 14 points, 13 rebounds) now has a double- double in 18 of the 23 games he' s played this season# 8226& nbsp; The Magic have won 16 of their last 19 games and their last five home games- ESPN research The win, coming at the front of a stretch that includes the Lakers on Saturday and Southestern Division leader New Orleans at home on Christmas, helped the Magic( 20- 6) stamp themselves as legitimate contenders . Police then searched his car and found 11 pink tablets that were believed to be ecstasy . 438 hitter with 46 homers, 194 RBIs and 30 steals in 429 games. It also spoiled a strong start by San Francisco' s Tim Lincecum " We' re having a tough time keeping the ball in the ballpark " Giants manager Bruce Bochy said " These are games we need to close out " San Francisco' s Randy Winn doubled twice among his three hits and scored two runs.

Last February, the Trail Blazers fined Telfair after a loaded gun was found on the team' s private jet at Boston' s Logan Airport . But his firing had more to do with his refusal to follow Madison Square Garden' s strict media policies than his poor won- loss record . Hamilton started it with back- to- back jumpers, and Prince' s 8- footer made it 78- 64 . Leaf, a Great Falls, Mont, native, led Washington State to the Pacific- 10 Conference championship and Rose Bowl appearance . Sources within the Jets' organization said that while the team is still interested in Burress, it wants to get a clearer indication from commissioner Roger Goodell' s office about what Goodell will do with regard to the personal conduct policy- i. Gonzalez moved into a tie with Rogers Hornsby for 22nd on the career doubles list.

His contract includes a club option for 2007 " We always look at dependability and reliability as being two main criteria " Shapiro said " Beyond being a dependable person, Jason is among the elite in the amount of innings he' s provided his teams in recent years " Those teams, Baltimore and Detroit, have lost an average of 93 games the past five seasons, hurting Johnson' s record . The Marlins' Hanley Ramirez broke up that bid in Miami with a leadoff homer in the seventh inning, and Garza finished with a complete game one- hitter . The move was meant to save money while giving young guards Junior Harrington and Alex Garcia more playing time . I had a very positive conversation with the prosecuting attorney this evening in which she was adamant that' this is not a new charge " Jones tested positive for alcohol on Feb . Orlando Cabrera walked to start the sixth and moved up on Adam Kennedy' s sacrifice. I wanted to play " But Favre seemed to develop buyer' s remorse three months later and began complaining publicly that the Packers' front office wasn' t doing enough in free agency to improve the team.

Wood reached the five- year contract he agreed to on Tuesday night, according to a source . Shockley, CB Brent Grimes, LB Tony Gilbert, S Thomas DeCoud, C Alex Stepanovich, LT Sam Baker, DL Kindal Moorehead, DE Simon Fraser . It' s like having a rash of injuries all at the same time for four weeks " Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . The trial is scheduled to start the day of Game 4 of the World Series . Carolyn Swords scored 12 points on 5- of- 5 shooting and Ayla Brown added 11 for the Eagles, who had their four- game winning streak snapped. Meaux, acquired from San Francisco in 2002, has struck out 64 while walking just 18 this season. Tomjanovich guided the Rockets to championships in 1994 and 1995 and was the winningest coach in their history with a 503- 397 record.

Hinch took over as manager# 8226& nbsp; The A' s hit four home runs( three of them solo) off former Oakland pitcher Dan Haren, but have the fewest home runs in the AL( 29 . It just didn' t work out " James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN . It' s something that really took off when we got to the playoffs . The result was a last- place finish in 1998 and a steady decline in attendance, which lasted until this year' s surprising playoff run " In 1997 we were on top of the world " said Danny Parra, a sales representative who brought his two sons to Tuesday' s rally " In' 98, we hit rock bottom . Walker has been sidelined most of the spring with the injury, which occurred early in spring training and was aggravated in an exhibition game on a checked swing The move was made retroactive to March 26. Craig Counsell had two hits and drove in three runs, and Luis Terrero drove in two as the Diamondbacks improved to 10- 2 on the road. He made a costly out in the seventh when the Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs on three singles that knocked Byrd out of the game.

That marks the first time in 40 years, and only the fourth time in franchise history, that New York won road games on consecutive days against a pair of opponents with winning records . 30 ERA last year with San Diego and Houston, which acquired him in July for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke . If Tejada doesn' t move, it' s likely an inning- ending 6- 4- 3 double play . The Orlando Magic hold the first selection and still have not decided whether to select Okafor or Howard " We would be pleased starting our basketball team with either one of those young men " Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said " They represent what we would like to become in terms of character, competitiveness and talent " The Clippers are already loaded at the power forward position and wanted to move down in the draft to select a point guard . The Golden Bears thought it tied the game on a layup by Ashley Walker as time expired, but the officials conferred for about 11 minutes before negating the basket. Cincinnati businessmen Bob Castellini, who leads a group that just finished buying 75 percent of the team, said last week that small units were being sold to investors around the region. win " Ethier said he feels a little more responsibility with Ramirez hitting ahead of him " You better get used to it, the manager is penciling you in there " Ethier said " He' s up there getting his pitches and we have to do our job to assure that he keeps getting pitches.

But we' re still talking to them and we' ll see what happens " The level of Charlotte' s interest has not been verified and it likewise remains to be seen how far Miami is willing to go financially to sign Iverson, whose free- agent options at 34 appear to be severely limited in this depressed economy . Indians first baseman Ben Broussard said maybe the booing should stop " It' s understandable to boo a guy who has gone elsewhere, but they need to change it up because he' s hitting everything the way it is " Broussard said " Maybe it' s motivating him " Vazquez( 6- 3) gave up only two singles- both with two outs in the third inning . The woman was alert as she was taken to first aid at the stadium- and got to keep the bat . He said the Phillies, who have an advantage because they still get to bat in the bottom of the sixth, will be money- line favorites and the wagers will be paid " whenever the game is finished " According to morning lines in Las Vegas, Philadelphia is listed at- 160 and Tampa Bay at+ 150 If the Rays win, a$ 1 bet will pay out$ 1 50; to win on the Phillies, a$ 1 60 bet wins$ 1 . Derrek Lee had an RBI single, Aramis Ramirez a run- scoring double and Fukudome a two- run, bases- loaded single. These are good wins and it' s a good feeling- we hadn' t won in awhile and we needed one " Headley, who had three hits, singled and scored during San Diego' s four- run sixth inning and singled again in the eighth before he homered off Joel Peralta, who came in to face Headley and blew his second save of the spring.

One inning later, Johnson got Laird to hit into an inning- ending double play with two runners on . They are scheduled next season to play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans . Not too surprising, really, given that Zorn himself said it was nothing short of " miraculous " that he was standing where he was: a few feet behind the team' s three Super Bowl trophies, essentially making the jump from quarterbacks coach to head coach because none of the candidates on owner Dan Snyder' s initial list worked out . He gave up six runs- five earned- on seven hits and three walks, striking out two " He just didn' t have his stuff tonight " manager Sam Perlozzo said " He' s come out and had good outings every time He just had one bad one . The 412- foot shot to right- center, in what might have been his last home game for the Rangers, was Sosa' s 21st this season- and No 609 in his career. Weeks was the second overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft and has hit 245 with 306 runs in his first five seasons He hit.

The rain that had fallen much of the game became unbearable in the fourth, forcing the first delay . Matsuzaka gave up a homer on the first pitch of the game to Nate McLouth . DeJesus added a two- run triple in the Royals' three- run ninth . Game notes Oakland on Friday will skip RHP Vin Mazzaro, who has tendinitis in his pitching shoulder . Leandro Barbosa had 19 points, Shawn Marion added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Steve Nash had nine points and 11 assists for the Suns, who again played without two- time All- Star center Amare Stoudemire following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Oct 2. He' ll be in charge of marketing the team and new projects at the stadium. He was hurt sliding into second on a stolen base in the third.

Nick Swisher drove in the go- ahead run with a ninth- inning triple, and the A' s rallied for a 4- 3 victory over the Giants on Friday night in the entertaining opener of the Bay Bridge Series . He tied a season high with four RBI, including a three- run homer in the eighth off Kevin Correia, who relieved Jason Schmidt . He has homered in 11 consecutive series, the longest such streak in baseball this season and one shy of the franchise record . Pablo Ozuna knocked in the final run on by grounding into a fielder' s choice . Once spring training starts, I' m sure he' ll be OK " With Tejada playing a key role, the Orioles bolted into first place early in 2005 and stayed atop the AL East deep into June. Before the game, Bonds put his hat on backward and served as the pitcher for the family softball game. Eaton allowed only a double to Ty Wigginton and a single to Tejada in the first four innings.