AMERICAN LEAGUE: AROUND THE HORN : BONDS' REHAB A GIANT BOOST.

Byline: - Matt McHale

The Giants have survived so far without Barry Bonds, going 19-16 entering the weekend since his April 20 elbow surgery. Now it looks like he could return well before the All-Star break target date.

Before Thursday's 12-inning loss in St. Louis, Bonds took batting practice in the indoor cage at Busch Stadium for a second straight day, and hitting coach Gene Clines was raving.

``He looked real good,'' said Clines, who threw to Bonds for about 15 minutes before Wednesday's game. ``It was probably the best I've seen him.''

Bonds was scheduled to take batting practice on the field for the first time during the weekend series in Montreal.

Clines would not speculate on whether Bonds could be back sooner than 10 weeks, which is the expected length of his rehabilitation.

``That's up to him,'' Clines said. ''Right now, he's remarkable. You can't put a time and date (on his return). He's got a reputation as a fast healer. Anything could happen.''

TAKING OFF

Sammy Sosa, who set a major-league record by hitting 20 homers last June, is getting hot again. Sosa's game-winning homer against Florida on Wednesday at Wrigley Field was his 12th in the last 24 games and his 73rd in 154 games since last May 25. Mark McGwire had 59 in the same time span. Before Sosa's homer off Atlanta's Kevin Millwood on May 25, 1998, he had just nine home runs on the season. Sosa finished with 66, four behind McGwire, who hit his 14th Thursday against the Giants' Mark Gardner. Exactly one year earlier, McGwire also took Gardner deep at Busch Stadium. It was his 21st.

LOOKING AROUND

Arizona, like everyone else, needs bullpen help. Closer Gregg Olson, who has a 5.40 ERA in 18 appearances, is just 5 for 10 in save situations. Right-hander Darren Holmes might not be available out of the bullpen until early next week, since he had a shot Tuesday to relieve a nerve impingement in his back. Further hindering the trade efforts is the injury to pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, since Brian Anderson has moved into the rotation and is not expendable. Of their 16 road losses, seven came on home runs that ended the game.

BIG BREAK

When the Dodgers face Pittsburgh this week, they'll see Pirates closer Mike Williams, who signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract last Wednesday after resurrecting a career that appeared lost.

Handed the closer's role in the first week of the season when Rich Loiselle went down with an elbow injury, Williams has gone 1-1 in 21 appearances with eight saves in 10 chances and a 1.59 earned run average.

Williams signed with the Pirates as a minor-league free agent Dec. 18, 1997, after spending the previous year bouncing from the Phillies to the Red Sox to the Royals organizations. He pitched at Triple-A Nashville until June 16, when he joined the Pirates after Jose Silva fractured his right forearm. Williams made 36 middle relief appearances and one emergency start, going 4-2 with a 1.94 ERA.

FINALLY

Last year, the Padres had nine players make a total of 10 trips to the DL. This year, eight Padres have gone on the DL. The opening-day starting eight has not started together since.