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Dumatrait, Nady propel Pirates past Giants

May 8, 2008 - 3:23 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Phil Dumatrait took a shutout into the sixth inning for his first major league win and Xavier Nady hit a two-run homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants, 3-1, on Wednesday night.

San Francisco starter Barry Zito was adequate in his return to the rotation after briefly being banished to the bullpen. In his first start since April 27, Zito allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

It was the first time this season Zito (0-7) allowed less than four runs in a contest.

"(The skipped start) was a time to re-focus," Zito said. "I definitely think it helped me in that aspect. I felt good out there, so I'm excited to get back out there in five days."

The lefthander, who threw 99 pitches, signed the richest contract for a pitcher in baseball history before last season. But he leads the majors in losses - no other pitcher even has six.

"Zito was fine," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He used all his pitches, and I thought he was more aggressive. He did what we wanted him to do, and that's give us chance to win. The bats were just quiet tonight."

Dumatrait (1-1), making his second start of the season, won for the first time in his career. In his eighth start and 18th overall appearance, the 26-year-old righthander yielded just three hits and a walk, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced.

"It's unbelievable. As long as I live, I will never forget this moment," Dumatrait said. "I was fortunate enough to go out there, and keep us in the game. I really attacked the batters. It's just unbelievable to get that first win."

"I thought Phil was great," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He kept the ball down in the zone and threw ball really well."

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Jason Bay led off with a single before Nady followed by taking the first pitch from Zito into the left-center bleachers to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

"Barry was pitching well," Nady said. "I got one good pitch to hit and was fortunate enough to get it out."

It was Nady's fifth home run of the season, but first since April 13. Nady now has 34 RBI, which leads the National League.

"I always felt that I could be productive at this level," Nady added. "I just have an opportunity to play on a daily basis and, most importantly, stay healthy. It's a tribute to the guys at the top of the order getting on base. I'm the one fortunate enough to come up and have an opportunity to drive them in."

Pittsburgh's other run came in the eighth when Nate McLouth crossed home plate on a double-play groundout by Nady. McLouth has scored at least a run for the eighth time in his past 10 games.

Tyler Yates struck out Aaron Rowand with a runner at second for the final out of the sixth and worked a scoreless seventh before Damaso Marte struck out the side in the eighth.

Matt Capps surrendered an RBI to Bengie Molina in the ninth but induced ex-Pirate Jose Castillo to ground into a double play with runners on the corners to earn his seventh save in as many opportunities.

The Pirates have won two in a row, while the Giants have dropped three straight and four of five.

"We want to try to deliver the knock-out blow (Thursday) in Game Three of the series," McLouth said.