Final
Zito eyes another win over Rockies
Apr 10, 2013 - 2:28 PMVideo
Zito was terrific against the St. Louis Cardinals, as he limited them to just three hits over seven scoreless innings and retired 15 of 17 batters beginning with the first inning's final out. He also struck out four and walked three batters.
"When he's really locked in, he's able to start locating inside, not only with the fastball, but throwing the cutter in on the hands, regardless of velocity," Giants reliever Javier Lopez said. "That's what you tend to appreciate because there's never a predictable sequence for him and that's the best part about his game."
Including the postseason, San Francisco has won the last 15 times that Zito has started, a stretch that dates all the way back to Aug. 7, 2012. That streak could be extended on Wednesday, as Zito hasn't lost in 11 starts against the Rockies and owns a 7-2 lifetime mark against them with a 2.61 ERA in 20 games (18 starts).
Colorado will pin its hopes on a veteran lefty of its own in Jeff Francis, who was almost as good as Zito in his debut. Francis beat the San Diego Padres, holding them to a run and five hits in six innings.
"From the first inning, I was hitting the glove," Francis said. "I gave up a run in the first, but it was an infield single and a broken-bat hit. I knew that I was throwing the ball the way that I was expecting to, and it was probably only a matter of time before our guys started scoring runs."
Francis is just 7-9 in 19 starts against the Giants with a 5.38 ERA.
Colorado lost its eighth straight game in San Francisco on Tuesday, as Angel Pagan drove in the winning run in the eighth inning to lift the Giants to a 9-6 win. Brandon Crawford hit a three-run home run and scored twice while Hunter Pence drove in a pair of runs for San Francisco, which has won five of eight to start the season.
Tim Lincecum was tagged for six runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over six innings of work. Santiago Casilla (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the win.
"You got to feel good after the team wins," said Lincecum. "Especially coming back from the hole I put them in there in that second inning."
Dexter Fowler and Josh Rutledge each drove in a pair of runs while Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who had won five straight coming into the series.
"They won a championship playing like that," said Colorado manager Walt Weiss. "They string together a lot of good at-bats."
Juan Nicasio pitched five-plus innings and was charged with four runs on five hits along with five walks and two strikeouts. Matt Belisle (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.
The Giants won 14 of 18 meetings against Colorado last season, marking their highest-ever win total against the Rockies in a single season.
- COLORADO: 0
SAN FRANCISCO: 10
Final
Apr 10 6:55 PM - Brandon Crawford popped into a fielder's choice, short to second scored Brandon Belt. On the play, Andres Torres out at second. Runner on first with two outs and Barry Zito due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 10 Bot 6, 2 OutsApr 10 5:59 PM - Buster Posey single to left scored Barry Zito. On the play, Marco Scutaro advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Hunter Pence due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 9 Bot 5, 2 OutsApr 10 5:35 PM - Barry Zito single to left scored Andres Torres. Runner on first with one out and Angel Pagan due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 8 Bot 5, 1 OutApr 10 5:28 PM - Andres Torres single to right scored Buster Posey and Hunter Pence. On the play, Joaquin Arias advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Brandon Crawford due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 7 Bot 2, 2 OutsApr 10 4:37 PM - Hunter Pence grounded into a fielder's choice to third. On the play, Angel Pagan scores on Chris Nelson's throwing error, Buster Posey advances to third and Hunter Pence advances to second on the error. Runners on second and third with one out and Joaquin Arias due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 5 Bot 2, 1 OutApr 10 4:33 PM - Buster Posey ground-rule double to center scored Barry Zito. On the play, Angel Pagan advances to third. Runners on second and third with one out and Hunter Pence due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 4 Bot 2, 1 OutApr 10 4:30 PM - Marco Scutaro sacrifice fly to right scored Brandon Crawford. On the play, Barry Zito advances to third. Runners on first and third with one out and Buster Posey due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 3 Bot 2, 1 OutApr 10 4:28 PM - Joaquin Arias single to left scored Buster Posey. Runner on first with two outs and Brandon Belt due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsApr 10 4:07 PM - Buster Posey triple to right scored Angel Pagan. Runner on third with one out and Hunter Pence due up.
Rockies 0, Giants 1 Bot 1, 1 OutApr 10 4:03 PM - COLORADO: 0
SAN FRANCISCO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 10 3:45 PM
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