Bonds to have MRI Saturday for strained patella tendon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


DENVER -- Barry Bonds left the San Francisco Giants' game against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning Friday night after straining his right patella tendon.

Bonds was injured in the fourth inning when he jumped up against the wall on a double by Preston Wilson. He stayed in the game, but came out after lining a single off the wall to lead off the fifth.

Bonds will have an MRI exam in Denver on Saturday.

"It's still too early to tell," Giants trainer Stan Conte said. "He walked off the field on his own power and walked out of here on his own power, which is a good sign."

Bonds stayed on the field after he went up for Wilson's fly, which bounced off the top of the wall, but could barely make it up the line after the single in the fifth.

The five-time MVP grimaced after straightening his leg on the swing, then hobbled to first base. Bonds stayed on the bag while Conte checked him out, then limped back to the dugout. He was replaced by Pedro Feliz.

Conte said Bonds had a full range of motion and the swelling was minimal.

"It wasn't bad. He didn't really feel it until he exploded out of the box," Conte said. "It is on the front part of his knee. The more he walked around the better he felt. He walked out of here and walked to his cab."

Bonds went out in the seventh inning against Arizona on Wednesday after spraining his right ankle while running out an infield single, but was in the lineup after the Giants' off day on Thursday.

Conte said the injuries were not related.

Giants manager Felipe Alou said it was unlikely Bonds would be able to play Saturday against the Rockies.

The single-season home run king was 2-for-3 and scored a run before leaving. He is 10-for-28 the last eight games with two homers, six RBI, two doubles and six walks.