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Zito still searching for first win

May 23, 2008 - 2:25 PM San Francisco (19-29) at Florida (27-19) 7:10 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) - The last time a pitcher started a season 0-9, Barry Zito was just a year removed from capturing the American League Cy Young Award. One more loss on Friday would give him with a piece of history he does not want.

Zito attempts to post his first win of the season when the Giants meet the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game weekend set.

Signed to a seven-year, $126 million deal prior the 2007 season, Zito (0-8, 6.25 ERA) appeared to be a worthy candidate to lead a rotation that possessed more question marks than answers after recording a 102-63 mark with Oakland in his seven seasons with the Athletics.

After going 11-13 in his first season in San Francisco, the lefthander has dropped eight of his first nine starts in 2008, becoming the Giant in 118 years to start a season with an 0-8 record.

Another loss on Friday would give him the worst start to a season a pitcher has endured since Mike Maroth went 0-9 for Detroit in 2003.

Zito, who is 0-2 in May despite a 3.94 ERA, has his offense to thank in part for his winless start as he has yet to allow more than three runs in any start this month, including Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox when the lefthander allowed two runs and eight hits with six walks and four strikeouts over five innings.

A win doesn't figure to come easy against the Marlins, who are 8-1 when Scott Olsen (4-1, 2.82) starts this season. However, the lefthander will be searching for his first win in three tries after not factoring into Saturday's 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals when he permitted three runs and seven hits over six frames.