SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle
Barry Zito earned his 33rd win as a Giant on Monday night in his 100th start, a ratio that falls far short of the team's desires and expectations, especially against dollars earned.
So, a question to the faithful: If Zito turns it around in 2010 and helps the Giants reach the playoffs, or beyond, will it all have been worthwhile?
Monday's 9-3 victory against the Pirates lifted the Giants to 6-1 and Zito to 2-0, advancing him far ahead of his own curve. In his first three seasons in San Francisco he did not earn his second win until April 21, June 8 and June 5.
New season, new attitude, even a new zip code for Zito, who moved his locker across the clubhouse for "a change of scenery." Plus, he said, "It's nice to be closer to the kitchen."
"Usually in the second half I feel pretty good. My goal is to bring that second-half guy into the first half. Usually I get to the second half and I'm in a place where the year is going to be what it is and I let the baseball gods determine what's going to happen."
This year, Zito said, he wanted to be "carefree" and "let my stuff work for itself."
It did not work as well Monday in six-plus innings of three-run ball as it did when he pitched six scoreless in Houston. But he did not have to be Randy Johnson on a night when San Francisco scored six runs in four innings against Brian Burres, a 2000 Giants draft pick. The Zito-esque lefty was summoned from the minors Monday when scheduled starter Ross Ohlendorf developed back spasms.
Bengie Molina was the big hitter. His two-run homer in the eighth against former Angels teammate Brendan Donnelly gave him four of the Giants' 12 hits and four RBIs, raising his season total to seven in five starts. Pablo Sandoval had three hits and Mark DeRosa a two-RBI single.
The comedy in this game was provided by big first baseman Aubrey Huff, who in successive innings scored from first on a Molina double and then ran three more bases on his own RBI triple into Mirabelli Alley.
"I told Bengie when I scored from first on his double, 'Just hit it out of the park next time,' " Huff said. "Next time I was on second base and he did. I was very appreciative of that."
Huff has been on base a lot lately, all five times Monday (he was hit twice by Burres, a former Orioles teammate) and his last three trips Sunday.
When he reached third after his triple, the dugout was in stitches and Huff shot third-base coach Tim Flannery a look that said, "What do I have to do to hit one out of here?"
Congratulations, Aubrey. You just got AT&T'd.
"That's pretty much all I've got," Huff said of the drive. "If it doesn't go out, it is what it is. If it goes into that corner it's going to be an automatic triple. I haven't had more than two triples in a season in my life. I think I'll match that this year."
Huff sold himself short. He hit five for Baltimore in 2007.
On the minus side, Edgar Renteria struck out his final three times at bat and is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts since his sizzling start. Also, Aaron Rowand took a Joel Hanrahan fastball squarely on the right wrist. He was sore, but X-rays were negative.
For the 2010 Giants seven games in, even the bad news turns good.
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