Estes believes in juiced-ball theories

SAN FRANCISCO - Giants pitcher Shawn Estes believed that juiced baseballs were causing the dizzying number of home runs this season. Now, he has more evidence - his grand slam.

''I'll admit it,'' Estes said after becoming the first pitcher in 31 years to hit a grand slam and throw a shutout in San Francisco's 18-0 victory over the Montreal Expos Wednesday night. ''The old ball probably wouldn't have gone out. It probably would have hit the wall or been caught.''

Estes said earlier this week that he thought the balls being used this season were harder and the seams smoother and more difficult to grip than baseballs used in the past. But juiced or not, it did nothing to diminish the thrill for Estes, who drove the first pitch he saw from reliever Mike Johnson in the fifth inning into the left-field seats for the first slam by a Giants pitcher in 51 years.

''This is the highlight of my career, to be able to combine the two. This is the best feeling I've had about a performance,'' Estes said.

The last pitcher with a slam and a shutout was Fred Talbot of the Seattle Pilots, who did it in an 8-0 victory over the California Angels on July 9, 1969, the Elias Sports Bureau said.

The last Giants pitcher to hit a slam in any game was Monte Kennedy on July 3, 1949, in the New York Giants' 16-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds.

''I threw it hard and he hit it at the right spot,'' Johnson said. ''Bottom line is, I was trying to get the guy out and I didn't.''

Estes (3-2), who allowed seven hits while striking out seven in his second shutout this season, was the first pitcher in San Francisco team history with a slam.

''With two outs and the bases loaded, I was just trying to make contact,'' Estes said. ''I wasn't going to swing at the first pitch but he threw it in there.

''A home run is weird for a pitcher ... I had to watch the replay to remember what happened. It's a surreal feeling. Nothing compares to that.''

The homer by Estes, who entered with a .188 average, was his first in three years and only the second in his career.

His teammates joined him in the 18-hit attack that produced San Francisco's biggest outburst since an 18-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 19, 1998, and the greatest margin of victory since a 21-2 victory over St. Louis on July 9, 1988.

Barry Bonds went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and homered for the 18th time this season, sending a solo shot off Mike Thurman into San Francisco Bay. It was the fourth homer to reach McCovey Cove since the Giants moved into Pacific Bell Park this season, and all have been hit by Bonds.

J.T. Snow also homered, tripled and singled to match a career-high with five RBIs.

The Expos endured their worst loss ever. The previous low-point was a 16-0 defeat at St. Louis on Aug. 11, 1980.

Estes almost had two grand slams. He came up in the eighth with the bases loaded again, giving him a chance to equal Tony Cloninger, the only pitcher in major league history to hit two slams in a game.

But after hitting a deep drive that curved foul, Estes singled to drive in his fifth run of the game.

Montreal manager Felipe Alou was a teammate of Cloninger's when the Atlanta Braves' pitcher hit two slams July 3, 1966, against San Francisco.

''I remember because I was playing against the Giants in that game,'' Alou said.

All things considered, Estes said one slam was plenty for him.

''You don't want to rub it in,'' he said.