SAN FRANCISCO — Now there's only Hank Aaron.

Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run yesterday to slip past Babe Ruth and pull in right behind Aaron, whose long-standing record of 755 may prove even tougher to crack.

So let the debate begin: Can Bonds hold up to break it?

"If you keep playing long enough anything is possible," he said.

No. 715 played out exactly the way San Francisco's slugger wanted — he hit it at home, in front of the fans who adore him.

It just took Bonds a little longer than he had hoped. The historic home run came eight days after he tied the Babe for second place on the career chart.

"For the fans of San Francisco, it can't get any better than this — even though I made them wait longer than I have in the past," Bonds said, wearing a new 715 shirt and cap. "Age ain't catching up with me."

But at 41, Bonds has been slowed by health problems. He underwent three operations on his right knee last year that limited him to 14 games, and also has bone chips in his left elbow.

And many believe his rapid ascent up the home run ranks was fueled by performance-enhancing drugs — though he has always denied knowingly taking steroids.

Bonds' latest milestone — a mightier homer than No. 714 — was a 445-foot, two-run shot to center before a sellout crowd. His seventh homer of the season came on the last day before the Giants began a road trip to Florida and New York.

Bonds' teammates toasted him with champagne in the clubhouse after the Giants' 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

"Everybody was waiting for a moment like this," shortstop Omar Vizquel said. "A couple of words were said."

Bonds homered off Byung-Hyun Kim in the fourth inning. The ball glanced off a fan's hands about 15 rows up and then dropped onto an elevated platform beyond the fence.

The souvenir sat there for a few minutes before rolling off the roof and into the hands of 38-year-old San Francisco resident Andrew Morbitzer, who was waiting for a beer and peanuts. He was quickly ushered away by security.

Bonds circled the bases as shiny orange, gold and black streamers fell from the upper deck.

Bonds connected at 2:14 p.m. on a 90 mph fastball with the count full, then immediately raised his arms and clapped his hands before beginning his trot. Kim became the 421st pitcher to surrender a homer to Bonds.

"It's a great honor," said Bonds, who watched Aaron hit his 715th home run at age 10. "It's a wonderful honor. Hank Aaron is the home run king and I won't disrespect that ever. ... I have a lot of respect for Babe Ruth and what he's done.

"I'd like to win a World Series and be home run king. I'd like to do both. I would take a World Series first."

Bonds embraced and kissed his 16-year-old son, bat boy Nikolai, as he crossed home plate, then was greeted by his teammates at the top of the dugout. He took one curtain call in which he tipped his hat and raised both arms and blew a kiss to the crowd.

Moments later, he came out again and waved.

Bonds went five games between 714 and 715. He hit 714 on May 20 at Oakland, a span of 17 at-bats and 25 plate appearances. Aaron had a four-game wait between 714 and 715.

CAREER HOME RUN LEADERS