Aug 12, 2002 5 min read

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Opposing teams don’t want to pitch to Barry Bonds. That means opportunities for the rest of the San Francisco Giants, including bench players. Pinch-hitter Ramon Martinez singled home the winning run in the 11th inning Sunday to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“After the 10th inning, I went to the batting cage because I knew eventually I’d get into the game,” Martinez said. “I just wanted to put a good swing on it.”

Jeff Kent homered and drove in two runs for the Giants, who won for the sixth time in eight games even though closer Robb Nen blew a 4-3 lead in the ninth.

The Pirates threw out two runners at the plate in the third to stay close.

“We threw a couple of punches and they came back,” Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon said. “They made some good pitches when they had to. They got the base hit.”

Bonds started the winning rally with his fourth walk of the game. Reggie Sanders grounded into a force play, and J.T. Snow singled.

Martinez, batting for Nen, hit a 2-0 pitch from Pirates closer Mike Williams (1-3) down the left-field line, easily scoring Sanders from second.

“We needed that,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said. “We were running out of men.”

Nen (6-1) went a season-high three innings for the victory. He walked Aramis Ramirez with the bases loaded in the ninth to force in the tying run, but struck out Kevin Young to escape further damage.

It was Nen’s sixth blown save in 35 opportunities – three in his last four games.

“I’d rather have not blown the save,” Nen said. “I had good stuff, but I couldn’t throw it where I wanted. I made too many mistakes.”

Bonds was 1-for-2 and has not homered in four at-bats since hitting his 600th Friday night. He’s walked seven times in the last two games.

“He seemed like he came up with guys on base every time,” Pirates starter Josh Fogg said. “I definitely have no problem putting him on first and trying to get the next guy to hit a groundball.”

Bonds leads the majors with 134 walks, a pace well ahead of his record of 177 set last year. He is seven free passes shy of tying Joe Morgan (1,866) for fourth on the career list.

“You can tell he gets a little frustrated,” Fogg said. “But if it’s going to be a strike on him, it will be on the corner. He’s one of those guys when you start a series you talk about not letting him beat you.”

Giants starter Ryan Jensen, winless in five starts, allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Jason Kendall had three hits and an RBI for the Pirates, who have dropped six of eight.

Fogg pitched out of trouble all day, stranding eight runners in the first five innings. He couldn’t get out of the sixth, however, giving up run-scoring singles to Rich Aurilia and Kent.

Joe Beimel came in to strand three more Giants. San Francisco left 16 runners on.

Fogg, who leads all NL rookies with 143 innings pitched, gave up four runs on 12 hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked four.

“I got a couple of huge breaks,” Fogg said. “Getting two guys thrown out at the plate in the same inning was big. It didn’t seem like anything was working. They hit a lot of pitches hard.”

With two outs in the Pittsburgh first, Brian Giles hit his team-leading fifth triple of the season. Ramirez followed with a single to put the Pirates up 1-0.

Kent tied it with his 24th home run of the season, a solo shot in the first on a full count.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead in the third. Aurilia hit a one-out double, Kent singled and Bonds walked to load the bases.

Sanders followed with a single, scoring Aurilia, but Kent was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Giles.

Damon Minor followed with a single, but right fielder Armando Rios nailed Bonds trying to score from second.

Adam Hyzdu, a first-round draft pick of the Giants in 1990, hit a sacrifice fly to tie it.

Kendall added an RBI double in the seventh

NOTES: OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo returned to San Francisco rather than complete a rehab assignment at Triple-A Fresno. He’s expected to be activated when the Giants visit Atlanta on Tuesday. … Kent needs one more homer to tie Jack Clark (163) for eighth on the San Francisco career list. … Pirates OF Rob Mackowiak, bothered by a strained muscle in his right arm, is expected to return to the lineup Monday when the team plays host to St. Louis. … Young was 1-for-14 before his fourth-inning double. … Sanders needs one RBI for 700 in his career. … Giles walked eight times in the series.