BC-BBN–Dodgers-Giants,0535

Dodgers 5, Giants 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Barry Bonds hit another late home run that didn’t make a difference against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bonds hit his 663rd career homer, a solo shot off Darren Dreifort, in the eighth inning of the San Francisco Giants’ 5-4 loss Saturday.

A night earlier, Bonds hit a two-run homer against Eric Gagne in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss. Saturday’s homer was his fifth this season.

Milton Bradley who homered and drove in two runs for the Dodgers, who won their fourth straight despite a shaky ninth inning from Gagne, who allowed a home run for the second straight day.

Paul Lo Duca and Jose Hernandez each had four hits, and Jose Lima made a successful first start for Los Angeles.

Lima (2-0) beat the Giants for the first time in five starts dating to 1999, allowing two runs and six hits in five innings. Two of his three walks were to Bonds.

Lima joined the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee after going 8-3 in 14 starts with Kansas last year. He has made three relief appearances for Los Angeles.

Wilson Alvarez pitched two scoreless innings before Dreifort relieved and allowed the homer to Bonds, which pulled San Francisco to 4-3. Dreifort walked Edgardo Alfonzo, and A.J. Pierzynski reached on Cesar Izturis’ fielding error before Guillermo Mota came on to strike out pinch-hitter Ray Durham.

Adrian Beltre restored the lead to two runs with an RBI single in the ninth off Matt Herges.

That was important, because Gagne allowed a leadoff homer to Pedro Feliz in the bottom half, then walked Jeffrey Hammonds and J.T. Snow around Neifi Perez’s sacrifice.

Gagne got his fourth save, his 67th straight since August 2002, when he got Marquis Grissom to ground into a game-ending double play.

Grissom and A.J. Pierzynski each had two hits for the Giants, who lost their third straight.

Kirk Rueter (0-1) allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, taking a 2-0 lead into the sixth before giving up Bradley’s two-run homer.

Juan Encarnacion then walked, Hernandez singled and Jim Brower relieved. Cesar Izturis’ single put the Dodgers ahead 3-2. Pinch-hitter Robin Ventura added an RBI single in the eighth.

Grissom gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the third with an RBI double, just the second time this season San Francisco scored first. Cody Ransom hit into a run-scoring double play.

Notes: The Dodgers are looking for their first three-game sweep in San Francisco since Aug. 11-13, 2001. Los Angeles won just two of 10 games in San Francisco last year. … Lo Duca has hit safely in all 11 games this year, including six multihit games. … Giants 2B Ray Durham missed his third straight game because of a mild left quadriceps strain. … Dodgers OF Shawn Green returned to the lineup after missing a game because of tightness in his right groin. … Saturday was the third anniversary of Bonds’ 500th homer, hit off the Dodgers’ Terry Adams. … Dodgers 2B Alex Cora left the game in the fifth with soreness in the back of his right elbow. … Dave Roberts of the Dodgers stole third in the seventh inning, his ninth steal this year.

AP-ES-04-17-04 1920EDT