Barry Zito pitched his best game of the season today, maybe even his best game in his last two years. San Francisco rolled over Atlanta with a 5-0 shutout to take three of four games.
Zito looked like the old Zito, the one that used to play for Oakland. He scattered five hits over seven innings while walking just two, and striking out three hitters. The bullpen secured the shutout as Zito earned his seventh win of the season, improving his record to 7-15. Perhaps this time Zito has finally figured himself out, and fixed what was wrong. Keiichi Yabu allowed two hits in the eighth inning, but also struck out two batters to keep the Braves off the board. Sergio Romo had a perfect ninth inning in which he also struck out two hitters.
San Francisco got on the board right away in the first inning, scoring three runs for Zito, who has been known for having to pitch with little run support. Rookie catcher Pablo Sandoval was two-for-four with singles and a RBI. Aaron Rowand drove in two runs, one on a solo homer in the sixth inning, and then another on a sacrifice fly. Dave Roberts picked up his first triple of the season, kind of late in the year for such a speedy guy. Travis Ishikawa got a stolen base after reaching base on a single, and also recorded an unassisted doubleplay.
The Giants will return home tomorrow for a three-game series against a plus .500 Marlins team. Ricky Nolasco will pitch against Kevin Correia in game one at 7:15 p.m. The Giants are hot after dominating the Braves at home, and need to continue to play well when they get back to San Francisco.
