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Zito faces Pirates in return to rotation

May 7, 2008 - 12:22 PM San Francisco (14-19) at Pittsburgh (13-19) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Barry Zito's stint as reliever did not last long.

Zito will try and solve his struggles on Wednesday as the San Francisco Giants continue a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Zito, who signed a seven-year, $126 million contract before last season, was banished to the bullpen last week after beginning the season 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA.

The Giants decided on the demotion after Zito lasted just three innings and allowed eight runs against Cincinnati on April 27. The opportunity to use him in relief never materialized, however.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy indicated that sending Zito to the bullpen was designed to give the club's Opening Day starter a mental break as much as anything else.

"We wanted to back him off a bit," Bochy said Tuesday.

Zito will make his first start in more than a week against the Pirates, who posted a 12-6 victory in Tuesday's opener.

Phil Dumatrait (0-1, 4.74) gets the ball for Pittsburgh. Dumatrait, who began the season in the bullpen, has failed to pitch more than four innings in his first two starts.