Barry Zito’s career in San Francisco continues to get worse and worse. However, his latest loss was not his fault, the offense once again failed to provide him with any run support. The Chicago White Sox secured a series win by a score of 3-1, and have limited the Giants to just one run in two games.
Zito pitched well enough to get a win, but he cannot win if the offense does not put up any runs for him. They cannot expect him to go out and throw shutouts every start, he has struggled too much these last two seasons to be able to consistently perform as he did in Oakland. The White Sox batters made him work and forced him out of the game after five innings due to a high pitch count. He struggled with his control, walking six batters and giving up eight hits through five innings, but managed to limit the damage to just two runs, each of them coming in the first and second innings. Zito looks to be improving, pitching well enough to win in his second consecutive start. Keiichi Yabu and Vinnie Chulk each pitched two innings; Yabu allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning. Collectively, Giants pitching managed to strand fourteen White Sox on the bases.
The lone Giants run came in the fifth inning, and made it look as if the Giants would be able to get something going, but did not. Pinch-hitting for Zito in the fifth, Eugenio Velez hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Jose Castillo to score. Bengie Molina and Jose Castillo had two hits a piece in the game. Aaron Rowand and Castillo had the Giants only extra-base hits, two doubles.
The Giants will wrap up this interleague series with Chicago tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. Matt Cain is scheduled to pitch against Javier Vazquez in the series finale. The Giants will return to National League play on Monday when they will start a three-game series at Colorado.
