(My Sportsbook) - Through eight innings on Thursday Bartolo Colon resembled the ace the Chicago White Sox thought that they had acquired from the Montreal Expos in the offseason. The 30-year-old Dominican had allowed two runs on four hits with just 84 pitches, and with a two-run lead, he seemed poised to nail down his fourth complete game in five starts.

Then the ninth inning came and everything fell apart for the Colon and the White Sox.

The frame started with a single to the gap in right-center field off the bat of Ray Durham, who easily could have made it to second. With Durham at first, though, the Sox were not likely to walk superstar Barry Bonds, who had struck out in all three of his previous at-bats.

San Francisco's strategy paid off, as Bonds crushed Colon's first pitch over the wall in right-center and just like that the game was even at 4-4.

"I felt very good at that time and I was concentrating on getting the first out, but unfortunately [Ray] Durham got the base hit and Barry followed up with the home run," Colon said. "I really didn't want to face Barry with a man on base. I was concentrating on getting the first batter [Durham] out. I didn't want to go against Barry with a man on base."

Bonds, who last struck out three times in a game back on August 8, 2001, has never been struck out four times in a game by the same pitcher. Anaheim's Scott Schoeneweis was the last pitcher to fan Bonds three times in the same game, turning the trick on June 13, 2001.

"He was probably sitting on something like that," Chicago manager Jerry Manuel said of the fastball Colon threw to Bonds. "But he had challenged him all night and won and it would have been difficult for me to take him out or whatever at that particular time. It was just one of those things where we lost that battle."

From there the roof caved in, as Colon allowed a single to Benito Santiago, who was erased at second when Jose Cruz, Jr. bunted into a fielder's choice. Pedro Feliz followed with a base-hit and both runners moved up on Colon's balk. Edgardo Alfonzo was then intentionally walked to load the bases and in the process ended Colon's night.

Damaso Marte came on from the pen and was greeted by pinch-hitter Rich Aurilia, who blasted the relievers's 0-1 offering over the wall in left to give the Giants their first lead of the game at 8-4, which they held on to.

The loss was the White Sox's second straight and eighth in 12 tries, as they continue to fall further out of contention in the ultra-weak AL Central. Chicago now trails the Minnesota Twins by 8 1/2 games.

WHO'S HOT

Frank Thomas has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and is 20-for-50 in that span with five homers and 14 RBI. He has also raised his average from a paltry .250 to .284.

WHO'S NOT

Paul Konerko snapped an 0-for-15 slide on Thursday with a single, his first hit since May 30. The 27-year-old Konerko continues to be the biggest disappointment on the White Sox with a .194 average after hitting .304 with 27 homers and 104 RBI a year ago.

COMING UP

Chicago will continue its interleague slate over the weekend with three games against the San Diego Padres before jumping back into American League action against the Boston Red Sox, who will visit U.S. Cellular Field for four games.