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Zito has rare off night, Padres capitalize

Jul 17, 2011 - 5:44 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The last time Barry Zito faced Cory Luebke, the former Cy Young Award winner got the best of the Padres in a game that saw a combined three runs.

The tables were turned Saturday night, as Jesus Guzman and Orlando Hudson belted three-run homers off Zito in a 11-3 San Diego rout, snapping the Padres' season-high seven-game skid.

Zito (3-2) came into this game unstoppable since being activated off the disabled list. The lefty was 3-0 with a 1.29 earned run average over his previous three starts since returning from a right mid-foot sprain. That included a 2-1 victory on July 7 against Luebke and the Padres, but this time around he was pounded for seven hits and eight runs over 3 2/3 innings.

"For the most part, the curveball didn't have the finish down, the changeup either," Zito said. "The pitches they hit out, cutter and changeup, they just didn't have that late movement."

The last time Zito gave up this many earned runs came nearly two years ago when he surrendered nine to the Padres on July 12, 2009. The most recent performance dropped him to 4-9 lifetime against the Friars.

Guzman, who made his major league debut playing for the Giants in 2009, added a run-scoring single for a four-RBI night. Rob Johnson singled in two runs, while Jason Bartlett totaled three hits and three runs scored.

Luebke (3-3) was charged with two runs on four hits and had five strikeouts in seven innings. He received plenty of support from a team that finally broke out offensively. San Diego totaled just five runs over its last six games.

"Hitting is contagious," Hudson said. "We got runs early. Luebke, young buck, settled in, threw his fastball and sliders for strikes. He was on top of his game. Things haven't been all glory for us, but we're still battling."

Miguel Tejada homered for the NL West leaders, who had won their previous four games.

Zito was off the mark from the start, walking both Bartlett and Ryan Ludwick in the first inning. Guzman struck a 2-1 pitch with two outs over the wall in left for his second career homer.

The Padres broke it open in the third. Zito was late covering first, resulting in a hit for Bartlett, who stole second. Chris Denorfia walked, and with two outs Guzman singled to left. Hudson followed with a homer to left field for a 7-0 cushion.

Pablo Sandoval, who had his career-high 22-game hitting streak snapped Friday, tripled leading off the fourth and scored on a Cody Ross sacrifice fly.

Cameron Maybin came home on a single by Denorfia in the fourth, finally ending Zito's night as he was pulled in favor of Guillermo Mota.

Tejada homered in the sixth before the Padres added a pair of runs in the seventh, one on an error from shortstop Brandon Crawford. He couldn't handle a bases-loaded grounder off the bat of Alberto Gonzalez. Johnson then singled to center.

Pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot hit an RBI double off Luke Gregerson in the ninth.

Game Notes

Before the game, the Padres recalled infielder Logan Forsythe from Triple-A Tucson and have optioned catcher Luis Martinez to the same minor league team...Prior to Saturday, the Padres hadn't connected for two-or-more homers in any game since cracking two in back-to-back road games May 11 at Milwaukee and May 13 at Colorado...The Giants are 46-13 when scoring at least three runs this season.