Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 3

Sports fUE Arizona republic live Lumia, sports editor, (602) 444-8222 1 dave.lumiaarizonarepublic.com i sports.azcentral.com SATURDAY September 29, 2001 SECTION blasts, to within 2 of record Bound! ni Associated Press trie atmosphere as San Francisco opened a three-game series against the Padres. As Bonds went to the plate, fans throughout sold-out Pacific Bell Park Waved giveaway white towels over their heads, and chants of "Barry! Barry!" filled the bowl. Camera flashes sparkled with each pitch to Bonds. The crowd roared as Bonds rounded the bases. Bonds jumped and emphatically pointed skyward as he crossed home plate.

Moments later, Bonds wept openly while sitting on the bench. Bonds was in a somber mood before the game. Franklin Bradley, a longtime friend and former bodyguard, died this week during surgery. McGwire hit 70 homers in 1998 to break Roger Maris' 37-year-old record of 61, but Bonds seems determined to erase McGwire's still-warm mark. The Giants have eight games remaining, including three at homer-friendly Enron Field in Houston.

The homer was Bonds' fourth in five games and his 10th in September, matching his previous best for homers in the season's final month. SAN FRANCISCO Barry Bonds hit his 68th home run on Friday night in San Francisco's 10-5 victory over San Diego to move within two of Mark McGwire's record. In the second inning, Bonds put a 3-0 pitch from San Diego right-hander Jason Middle-brook deep into the right-center field bleachers for a solo homer. It was Bonds' third homer in six days against Middle-brook, who also yielded Bonds' 65th and 66th homers last weekend in San Diego. Bonds delivered in an elec- 1 Comparing, 1 the home run Pace arfy onc's '4 1 i with Mark McGwire's 70-homerun season in 1998: BONDS: Friday: 2 for 3, home run Season: 154 games, v68 home runs McGWIRE: 1 Season: 154 games, 63 home runs More Giants coverageC9 INSIDE i TV 1 fr i I feJt I J0 ijrTai'Km .4 I n-m, 1 Associated Press follows through after he hit his Friday night against San Diego.

"7 1 Deirdre HamillThe Arizona Republic Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams slides home safely under the tag of Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca. Womack is his own worst enemy San Francisco's Barry Bonds 68th home run of the season if tl ney back has taken more than a few bad hops. On April 22, Womack's father, Thomas, died from an aneurysm. Womack unraveled, and by June 7, his average fell to .205. Fans began turning on him, chanting "Tucson, Tucson" when he would come to bat.

"It stayed with him a long time," hitting coach Dwayne Murphy said. "He's a sensitive person." With that personality trait, it takes longer to rebound. See B0IVIN Page C8 Tonight's game SAN JOSE STATE (0-2) at ARIZONA STATE (1-1) WHEN: 7:15 p.m. WHERE: Sun Devil Stadium. TV: FOXAZ.

RADIO: XTRA-AM (910), KFYI-AM (550). Stewart, who started ASU's first two games against San Diego State and Stanford. Shivers had four tackles in each of the first two games. "They're very close. Thought Jason played a little bit better," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said.

"We're not mad at Riccardo. Riccardo's going to be a great player for us, and both of those guys have tremendous futures at ASU." Shivers has more speed than Stewart and the team's other free-safety candidate, redshirt freshman Michael Holloway. Shivers won the Class 5A 100- Wallop in 11th fends off LA D-BACK 4, DODGERS 3 (11) By Bob Yoking The Arizona Republic Early this week, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said he needed to impress upon his team that it shouldn't be trying to just hang on in the National League West race. Instead, Brenly said, it's time to just go grab the thing. Friday night, the Diamondbacks finally performed as if they aren't playing for a poison pennant.

Luis Gonzales hit his 54th home run of the season, a dramatic walk-off shot in the bottom of the 11th inning, to give the Diamondbacks a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Bank One Ballpark. The victory kept the San Francisco Giants, who beat San Diego 10-5, two games back with eight to play. And it all but eliminated the slim hopes of the Dodgers, who are now six games behind. Gonzales provided the finish, but he had help. See D-BACKS Page C8 NL West race Pet GB D-Backs 87 67 .565 Giants 85 69 .552 2 Dodgers 81 73 .526 6 Magic number: 7 Combination of D-Backs victories and Giants losses needed to clinch the NL West championship.

meter dash as a senior (10.67 seconds) and the 200 (21.57) and has run a 4.4 in the 40. "He's got great speed. In our style of defense, your free safety has to have some speed and he has to be a great tackier. He has to be able to take good angles and he has to be the quarterback of the defense," Koetter said. Making the calls is not easy.

Stewart had assistance from senior safety Willie Daniel and junior safety Al Williams, and they also will provide a safety net for Shivers. "Are we going to have some growing pains with them (Shivers and Stewart) as the quarterback of the defense? Sure. We can't make this work out perfect and start seniors at every position," Koetter said. "What we lack in experience will be an asset for us down the road. We're excited about the secondary we're just young." Baker, 5-11 and 182 pounds See ASU Page CI7 Cards' Sanders ready to play Cardinals wide receiver Frank Sanders, who is suffering from a sore back, is expected to play lt Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, coach Dave McGinnis says.

C16. Sore toe might sideline Shaq Shaquille O'Neal, who had surgery Aug. 29 to alleviate pain in his small left toe, says he may not be ready to play when the vtwo-time defending NBA champion Lakers begin the season Oct. 30 against Portland. C2.

JockeyS. Stevens nears 3,000 wins Scott Stevens wins three races on Hirf Paradise's opening day, putting him five short of becoming the 78th jockey with 3,000 for Ms career. C3. THE SCORES NLC6, 9 D-Backs 4, Dodgers 3 (11) Giants 10, Padres 5 Braves 5, Mets 3 Marlins 6, Phillies 5 (10) Cubs 6, Astros 2 Cardinals 14, Pirates 3 Expos 7, Reds 6 Rockies 6, Brewers 5 ALC6, 7 Tigers 4, Red Sox 1 Twins 1, Indians 0 Yankees 7, Orioles 0 Devil Rays 6, Blue Jays 1 Royals 3, White Sox 2 Rangers 11, Angels 2 Mariners 5, Athletics 3 TODAY'S GAMES Dodgers at D-Backs, p.m. Coyotes at Stars, 5 p.m.

Washington State at Arizona, 7 p.m.. San Jose State at Arizona State, 7:15 p.m. Five-game planner, C2. INDEX Fanfare C4 Auto racing. C15 Baseball C6-9 NFL C15 NHL C13 Golf C16 Scoreboard C14 UA football C17 I COMING SUNDAY Matter of opinion Players and coaches weigh in on who should win this year's NL Cy Young Award.

The D-Backs' Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson are among the top candidates. Sunday In Sports. A Go to pickthepros.azcentral.com to play Arizona's best football pick'em game, Pick the Pros. Register and make your picks today. On Friday at Bank One Ballpark against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was hit-less, ending an 11-game hitting streak during which he batted .434.

He had contributed significantly to the offense's recent resurgence: three games scoring 10 or more runs in the past week following a 24-game drought. He was looking more and more like the player the Diamondbacks signed in 1999, one put in the leadoff spot to manufacture runs on a team that had difficulty doing so. But like Friday, the jour From Tony Womack's view at home plate, the basepath to first is Uttered with angry fans, critical media and skeptical management. In truth, it's 90 feet of dirt, nothing else, and the sooner the shortstop remembers that, the better off he, and the team's offense; will be. "I worry too much about what people think," he said.

"I know it." Womack is a gifted ballplayer who has struggled this season. It's that simple. But he has allowed the game Tempe topples 2 true freshmen will start PA0LA B0IVIN The Arizona Republic to become Medusa, with snakes of insecurity sprouting from her head. He hears boos 10 times louder than they really are. He interprets a day off from management as a lack of confidence.

McClintock Jr. i A "1 Shivers, Baker in ASU spotlight By Don Ketchum The Arizona Republic The training wheels are off. It's time for Jason Shivers and Lamar Baker to ride on their own. The two true freshmen will start for Arizona State tonight at free safety and cornerback, respectively, when the Sun Devils (1-1) face San Jose State (0-2) at Sun Devil Stadium. Both players have had considerable playing time, but starting is special, according to Shivers, from Phoenix South Mountain High.

"I'm trying not to let it get to me or anything. I just want to go out and play my game as best I can," Shivers said. Shivers, 6 feet 1 and 187 pounds, has moved ahead of redshirt freshman Riccardo -is Mike RynearsonThe Arizona Republic Despite running back Randy Hill's 220 yards for McClintock, Tempe beat McClintock 48-34 Friday night in a Class 4A non-region game. Story, CIO. 1 .1.1 nz-j a- ut it "s-r it i-ri-wT T'o 73 TE ARIZONA REPUBUC abentralcoTi 7 A'.