SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants' recent mini-resurgence that put them temporarily into second place in the National League West certainly titillated fans' hopes the club could contend for the division's title, but general manager Brian Sabean wasn't fooled.

No matter where San Francisco finishes this season, he's already mapping plans for 2006.

And that's with Barry Bonds or without him.

Losing the seven-time NL MVP for five-plus months was a tremendous loss -- it definitely helped spoil the season -- but his return for Monday's 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at SBC Park was a moment to remember and a harbinger of success yet to come.

Still, the troublesome season rankles.

"We obviously have to make some significant changes to improve our lot," said Sabean. "The good thing, overall, is our division is very fallible going into next year. I don't see anybody being able to go hog wild in a weak free-agent market.

"If these two past trade deadlines have been indicative of the lack of willingness for people wanting to trade, it's going to be tough to retool your team to a significant extent."

The Giants will evaluate their needs, with Sabean calling Bonds "a significant piece of the puzzle."

"We'll be respectful of how we evaluate these guys as well as cautious how we count on them," said the GM of the contributions from young players. "This time has been a godsend to them and it's kind of taught us a lesson that maybe we'll turn to our own players more."

Not having Bonds as the club's anchor partially caused the Giants to flounder, although with 19 games left in the season, they aren't mathematically eliminated, closing to within six games of the West-leading Friars with Monday's win.

Bonds, who hadn't played since last September, powered a double off the left-center-field wall that was snagged by a fan in his first at-bat and later scored on Ray Durham's single.

That was the first run on the Giants' comeback from a first-inning, 3-0 deficit, with Durham leading the charge with a 3-for-3 effort, including a solo homer in the fourth. Edgardo Alfonzo also contributed three hits.

But almost lost in the glitz and hoopla surrounding Bonds' first appearance of the year was a remarkable bullpen effort by unheralded reliever Matt Kinney.

The 28-year-old right-hander spent the season as a starter in Triple-A Fresno, but when starter Kevin Correia allowed three runs in the opening frame with two runners on, Kinney came to the rescue, holding the Padres scoreless over the next 5 2/3 frames.

Talk about a quality "start."

"Kevin usually pitches better than that, so it's not something you'd expect," said Kinney, a five-year veteran who notched the victory, his first of the year. "To be honest, I just went out there and threw strikes. Luckily I've had experience relieving and [am] used to getting up quick. My arm doesn't take long to get loose.

"The good thing is I've started all year, so throwing that many pitches [75] isn't a problem ... I'm used to throwing 100," said Kinney, remembered as Bonds' homer victim for No. 660 last year.

"It was a great win to come from behind, and I'll be honest, it's a lot better being on [Bonds'] team and his side," said Kinney. "It was exciting. He's hit so many [homers] he doesn't really pay attention to that stuff, which I'm glad."

Kinney's outing was the longest by a Giants' reliever this year, surpassing Kirk Rueter's five frames on July 18.

Correia, making his first start since Aug. 31 when he suffered a bone bruise in his right shoulder, felt out of sync from the onset, with even his bullpen pitches going astray.

On the mound it wasn't any different, as he walked two batters, hit another, threw a run-scoring wild pitch and gave up RBI hits to Joe Randa and Ramon Hernandez.

"I hadn't pitched in a game in a couple of weeks, and I didn't know where it was going," said Correia. "My mechanics were bad; I was rusty as could be. I just didn't have a good feel for the game. I could understand a little rust, but it wasn't what I was looking for."

Durham, in the meantime, continues a great homestand. He is 8-for-18 (.444) so far and since the All-Star break is batting .341 with seven homers and 32 RBIs.

"It was more exciting for the fans with Barry back," said Durham. "The guys see Barry, but for the fans it was definitely exciting. We know what we have to do to make the playoffs and that's just win games."

Giants first baseman J.T. Snow, who has also been instrumental in keeping the club in contention, suffered a left hamstring strain while running to first on a seventh-inning single and was taken out of the game.

Snow will be evaluated on Tuesday.