日本語 Japanese Ask Questions Thread 4

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Japanese Ask Questions Thread2
http://dis.4chan.org/read/lang/1206158123/1-40

Japanese Ask Questions Thread3
http://dis.4chan.org/read/lang/1267485093/1-40

Can anyone verify this usage of ばかり?

According to "Handbook of Modern Japanese Grammar" ばかり following 連体形 can mean "to the extent that; practically; virtually; or almost" and the examples they give are as follows:

・泣くばかりに頼みましたが、聞いてくれませんでした。 "She practically cried asking it of him, but he did not listen to her."

・悲しくて胸が裂けるばかりでした。 "I was so sad, that my heart almost burst."

I can't corroborate this interpretation in any other sources. No additional information is given on the actual construction either, just "V3 + ばかり", which leaves me wondering where に comes into play in the first example. Thanks for your time.