Bonds picks up steam with HR No. 740

SAN FRANCISCO -- The countdown is on. Barry Bonds is closing in on Hank Aaron in a hurry.

Bonds hit his 740th home run Sunday, connecting for the second consecutive game and helping Matt Cain earn his first win of the season in the San Francisco Giants' 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bonds moved within 15 homers of Aaron's record. With two outs in the fourth inning, he sent the first pitch from Yusmeiro Petit (0-1) into the seats in the right-field arcade for his sixth homer of the season.

The 42-year-old Bonds walked out to left field in the top of the fifth to a loud standing ovation, tipping his cap as he made his way to his spot. Fans bowed over the left-field fence.

Petit, called up from Class AAA Tucson before the game to make his second major league start, became the 438th pitcher to give up a homer to Bonds.

"He changes your club, your lineup, including the opposing pitcher seeing Barry out there," first-year San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "I can't say enough about what he's done for us the last few days. It's pretty remarkable what he's doing at his age. ... Since coming over here, it amazes me what he does. It tells you how much better he is than any of the rest of us."

Bonds flied out and struck out looking in his other two at-bats.