NEW YORK -- Barry Bonds' first and only trip to New York this season didn't get off to a talkative start -- unless you include the people who still haven't stopped talking about one of the Mets' most Amazin' wins.

But Bonds, who declined to meet the media on his first day in the Big Apple, probably wasn't as speechless as was Giants reliever Armando Benitez by the 12th-inning turn of events on Tuesday night at Shea Stadium. Benitez balked home the tying run and then allowed a game-winning, walk-off homer to Carlos Delgado as the Mets rallied for a 5-4 victory.

As for the media massed for Bonds' first visit of the season to New York, well, they'll have to wait another day to hear Bonds' view of his journey toward baseball's most hallowed record.

Bonds didn't do interviews -- the first time this season he hasn't granted interviews on Day 1 of a road trip as stipulated by his contract. Nor did he play, with the exception of an uneventful 10th-inning pinch-hit appearance. As usual, though, he was center stage, easily being the day's biggest attraction for armies of photographers and fans alike.

Those fans, 47,940 strong, rose to greet Bonds' pinch-hit appearance with a wall of boos. Bonds coaxed a five-pitch walk out of Scott Schoeneweis to trigger a rally that didn't go anywhere for the Giants.

Keeping Bonds out of the batter's box was an easy call for Giants manager Bruce Bochy. Coupled with Monday's off-day, it gave Bonds' 42-year-old body an extended break. He was also 1-for-9 lifetime, with four strikeouts, against Tuesday's Mets starter, Oliver Perez.

While it was difficult for the New York media and fans to have a party without the guest of honor, there were still enough favors for an entertaining day.

The media horde squatting in the visitors' clubhouse had expected Bonds to meet with them in the dugout prior to batting practice.

A little after 4 p.m. ET, Bonds debarked from the team bus, strolled into the Giants clubhouse and weaved his way through gauntlets of reporters to his locker. His head was wrapped in headphones -- Bonds' cone of silence.

Giants director of public relations Blake Rhodes leaned into Bonds' locker for a minute, then turned to the reporters.

"Barry's not going to speak today," Rhodes said. "Tomorrow, maybe. Who knows?"

That pronouncement did not trigger a mass exodus from the cozy locker room, prompting Bonds to exclaim in mock frustration, "I can't even get dressed in here, man."

The scene out on the field was far more stunning and chaotic. Photographers lined the lip of the dugout three-deep, awaiting Bonds' grand entrance.

Suddenly, they all sprang to life as Giants began streaming out of the tunnel.

"It's only me, guys," said Giants right-hander Matt Morris, grinning broadly as he cut right through the shutter mob.

After a few more seconds of waiting, a voice dramatically proclaimed, "I think he's coming out!"

And Bonds did, energizing the fans crowded behind the dugout into chants of "Bar-ry! Bar-ry!"

Bar-ry scaled the dugout steps onto the field with a big smile and a wide wave of his arms, and made his way toward the batting cage.

Like a connected blob, the trigger-happy photographers flowed with him. When Bonds launched a batting-practice pitch off the middle of the towering right-field scoreboard -- an estimated 490 feet away -- the fans "oohed" and "aahed."

And then he was gone, saving his insights and at-bats for Wednesday's game, perhaps.