Bonds returns to Giants' starting lineup

Barry Bonds returned to the San Francisco Giants' starting lineup Thursday night after sitting out the first two games against Arizona with shin splints.

"I'm feeling a lot better," Bonds said, standing at his locker before heading out for batting practice.

The slugger took his pregame cuts for the first time since Monday and was smiling and laughing while sitting alongside his teammates watching a movie in the clubhouse. He has been taking prednisone to help lessen the swelling in his legs.

The 42-year-old Bonds, who had homered only once in 61 at-bats since connecting May 8, needs nine more home runs to match Hank Aaron's career record of 755. Bonds his 746th homer and 12th of the season May 27 off Colorado's Taylor Buchholz in San Francisco.

Bonds was batting .364 with three homers and four RBIs in 11 career at-bats against Diamondbacks starter Livan Hernandez, a former Giant and teammate of the seven-time NL MVP.

Manager Bruce Bochy sure was thrilled to write Bonds' name into the lineup in left field and the cleanup spot. The Giants headed into the series finale against the Diamondbacks having lost four of five, still looking for their first win at Chase Field after losing the first five 2007 meetings in Phoenix.

"Barry's doing a lot better," Bochy said. "They put him on some meds and it seems like he's responding. It's great to have him back in the lineup. We know what Barry means to this lineup _ his presence and his power."

Bonds said he made strides thanks to having his personal trainers _ Greg Oliver and Harvey Shields _ on hand this week to help ice and massage his body, and lead him through a couple of morning workouts. They flew ahead of the team to San Francisco, where they will work with Bonds during the club's six-game homestand starting Friday night in the second installment of the Bay Bridge Series with the Oakland Athletics.