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Zito hopes for a fresh start in finale against Dodgers

Apr 3, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - Barry Zito will try to turn around a horrendous conclusion to the 2010 season when he takes the mound today for the Giants as they try to forge a split of their season-opening four-game series with the Dodgers.

The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner went 9-14 with a 4.15 ERA in 2010, but his final three months of the season were a nightmare. The left-hander lost 10 of his final 11 decisions.

He did go 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA in Spring Training.

Zito has pitched to a 6-8 record and 3.83 ERA in 19 career starts against the Dodgers. Last year, he had a 2.41 ERA in three games against Los Angeles, but went 0-3 in six starts.

Zito was actually briefly hospitalized following a car accident Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the two-car accident occurred in West Hollywood near the home he owns in the area. The paper cited sources as saying Zito was assisted out of the vehicle and taken to a hospital, but released shortly afterward with no serious injuries.

The defending World Series champions finally picked up their first win with a 10-0 rout on Saturday. Freddy Sanchez had three hits and three RBI. Sanchez fell a triple short of the cycle while Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

They also got a solid effort from Matt Cain, who allowed only five hits in six innings and struck out three.

"We needed this one," Cain said. "The guys swung the bats well. I threw a lot of strikes. I went out there and threw my game."

Ted Lilly took the loss after allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

"He was okay early, but he ran into trouble and couldn't stop the bleeding," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

Pitching in the series finale for the Dodgers will be Hiroki Kuroda. The 35- year-old Japanese right-hander is coming off an 11-3 mark and a 3.39 ERA in 31 starts last season. He's 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA in seven career starts against the Giants. However, Giants opponents are just 15-for-77 (.195) over his last three starts against them.

The Giants were 10-8 against the Dodgers last season.