Barry Bonds left yesterday's game against the visiting Oakland Athletics after the second inning with irritation in his left knee, a day after the San Francisco slugger connected for his 719th home run.

Bonds is day to day. The seven-time NL MVP had surgery on his left knee after the 2004 season ended, then underwent three operations on his right knee last year.

Fans booed when A's starter Esteban Loaiza walked Bonds on four pitches leading off the second. He scored on Steve Finley's double to left-center two batters later, but was clearly uncomfortable running the bases and hobbled home with a grimace on his face.

Bonds was replaced in left field by Mark Sweeney in the top of the third.

The A's beat the Giants, 10-4.

BRAVES

SMOLTZ CONFIDENT HE WILL MAKE NEXT START

Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz expects to make his next scheduled start Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Smoltz had a bullpen session yesterday, two days after he strained his right groin. The right-hander was hurt when he followed through on a pitch and took a couple of steps toward the first base line to pursue Damon Hollins' slow dribbler in the second inning of Friday's game against Tampa Bay.

"I'm confident that Wednesday will go fine," Smoltz said.

ROYALS

SWEENEY'S REHAB PUSHED BACK BY CLUB

Mike Sweeney's rehab assignment has been pushed back by Kansas City.

Sweeney, a five-time All-Star who has been on the disabled list since May 2 with a bulging disc in his back, was scheduled to report to Double-A Wichita today.

After taking batting practice and running the bases yesterday, Sweeney said those plans changed following a meeting with manager Buddy Bell.

"He still feels there's a couple of things he wants to implement into my rehab program before I get back to playing," Sweeney said.

Sweeney said he would go with the team to Cincinnati, where the Royals open a three-game series tomorrow. If he makes enough progress, he could be sent Friday to begin his rehab program.

ELSEWHERE

Cardinals: St. Louis left-hander Mark Mulder has rotator cuff inflammation and irritation in his left shoulder, an MRI revealed. The Cardinals plan to re-examine Mulder's shoulder in about a week, and haven't set a timetable on his return. Mulder was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.