Mercury News
Barry Zito couldn't say he took inspiration from watching Randy Johnson achieve his 300th career victory.
That's because Zito wasn't in Washington, D.C., to witness it.
Aware that the team wouldn't arrive in Miami until the wee hours Friday, Giants officials put Zito on a flight Thursday afternoon. His heavy-lidded teammates didn't check into the Trump International hotel until 4:30 a.m. Friday.
But they provided just enough support to help Zito break a four-start losing streak in a 2-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night.
Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and like Johnson's milestone decision a day earlier, the result hung on a pitch near the end.
Brian Wilson stopped hearts in the visiting dugout by walking the bases loaded before Jorge Cantu grounded out, clinching the Giants' ninth victory in 11 games.
With Sergio Romo spinning funhouse-mirror breaking pitches again and Wilson surviving the roller coaster, Zito brightened his record to 2-6 and won his 125th career game.
There are 22 active major league pitchers with more wins than Zito, and the 31-year-old former Cy Young Award winner is younger than all but one of them: Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle, 30, who has 128 wins.
When baseball fans debate the next 300-game winner, should Zito be part of the conversation?
"Sure, why not?" Zito said. "If I pitch for 12 more years, I can get there."
A dozen years? Really? "Oh yeah," Zito said. "It's hard to hang it up. I'm just sorry I missed seeing Randy get there." It's safe to say the Giants aren't looking to extend Zito when he's in the third season of a seven-year, $126 million contract. But there is nothing embarrassing about his 3.86 ERA, and because the Giants have scored just 17 runs behind him in 11 starts, his record doesn't reflect his striking improvement. For just the third time in 11 starts, Zito held a lead at the conclusion of an inning. Sandoval followed Bengie Molina's single with a deep drive off right-hander Chris Volstad. "That's the Pablo that I am," Sandoval said. "Aggressive at home plate, put the ball in play, get a pitch to hit out." Zito was not always the Zito he can be. He had to strand the bases loaded in the fourth and lost all semblance of rhythm in the sixth, when he walked the first two batters and was removed from the game. Brandon Medders allowed one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, and Romo reestablished himself by protecting a one-run lead over two innings. It was just Romo's second game back after he missed three months with a sprained elbow ligament. "He makes us a better bullpen," Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's got weapons and the command to use them." Said Romo: "I've been in two one-run games and it's pretty awesome, the confidence they have in me. I don't want to be the one to hold us back." Wilson almost did. He had an 0-2 count before walking leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza, who doesn't own a home run in 157 career at-bats. After a sacrifice bunt, Wilson walked Jeremy Hermida and Hanley Ramirez on 3-2 pitches to bring pitching coach Dave Righetti to the mound. "He said I was flying open, striding too much, my arm was dragging." Wilson said. "I said, 'Hey, here's a good idea: Let's fix that.' Good time, too, with the bases loaded." Molina's timing was good as well. A few hours after Bochy broached the possibility of moving the slumping catcher out of the cleanup spot, Molina responded with his first multi-hit game since May 17. After the game, Bochy said the lineup change wasn't imminent and expressed confidence Molina would start hitting. The notoriously slow catcher isn't panicking, either. He even offered a little self-deprecating humor. "I never lose confidence in what I do, whether I am hitting or catching," Molina said. "I have my doubts running "... but I know I can hit." From: MLB.com
 San Francisco (28-25) Won 3 | San Francisco 2, Florida 1 |  Florida (26-30) Lost 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Standings thru 6/5/09 | Recap: SF | FLA | Gameday | Giants stats | Marlins stats |
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