HOUSTON, April 5 (UPI) -- Barry Bonds had a three-run homer in the eighth inning and J.T. Snow a sacrifice fly in the ninth Monday as San Francisco beat Houston, 5-4.
Linked to a government steroid investigation, Bonds has had to defend himself throughout the spring. He has denied the accusations.
Bonds' three-run blast off starter Roy Oswalt erased a 4-1 deficit and gave him 659 home runs in his career, one behind his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place all-time. Only Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) have more.
After Bonds tied the game, the Giants pushed across the go-ahead run in the ninth against new Houston closer Octavio Dotel (0-1). Pinch hitter Tony Torcato was hit by a pitch, Ray Durham sacrificed and Dotel uncorked a wild pitch. Snow followed with a fly to right field that scored pinch runner Cody Ransom.
Felix Rodriguez (1-0) earned the win with a hitless eighth.
