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Padres 3, Giants 2 (12 innings)

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's 33-year-old home run record when he connected for No. 755 Saturday night, but his San Francisco Giants lost 3-2 to the San Diego Padres.

"The hard part is over right now," Bonds said.

No. 755 was a strong shot for all the doubters, an opposite-field drive of 382 feet to left-center, moving Bonds within one swing of having baseball's pinnacle of power all to himself. It came on a 2-1, 91 mph fastball.

"This is the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire career," he said. "I had rashes on my head, I felt like I was getting sick at times."

High above the field in a private box, baseball commissioner Bud Selig was a reluctant witness to history. Choosing to overlook the steroid allegations that have dogged the San Francisco slugger, Selig watched Bonds tie Aaron's home run record -- his mouth agape, hands stuffed in pockets and nary a cheer on his lips.

"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," Selig said in a statement.

Khalil Greene lined a bases-loaded single up the middle in the 12th inning off loser Randy Messenger (1-4), the second straight extra-inning game for the teams.

The two-time defending NL West champion Padres beat their former manager Bruce Bochy and San Francisco for the fourth straight time. Cla Meredith (4-5) pitched the 12th for the win.

San Diego's Scott Hairston homered for the third time in two games, hitting a leadoff shot in the bottom of the first. Bonds then started the top of the second with a drive to left-center to tie Hammerin' Hank after trying since July 27. Bonds left the game early for the fifth straight night.

Padres starter Clay Hensley became the 445th pitcher to surrender a homer to Bonds, who has hit 87 against the Padres _ his most against any team. He has 43 in San Diego, his most in any road city, but it was just his fourth in 78 at-bats at 4-year-old Petco Park.

Giants rookie left-hander Pat Misch was called up from Triple-A Fresno to make his first major league start and seventh appearance overall.

Hairston homered twice in Friday's 4-3, 10-inning win, hitting the game-winning shot and driving in all of San Diego's runs. He left Saturday's game with a bruised left foot.

Bonds was not expected to play in the series finale Sunday. The Giants head home for seven games, starting with the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Monday night.<

Game notes

The game drew 42,497 fans, San Diego's 11th sellout. ... Giants 1B Rich Aurilia was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. ... Padres sports therapist Kelly Calabrese, typically on the San Diego bench but away from the club since mid-June, delivered a son named Timothy Joseph earlier in the day.