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Molina, Zito guide Giants past Dodgers

Jul 6, 2008 - 5:18 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Bengie Molina's two-run double capped a four-run seventh inning and Barry Zito struck out a season-high 10 batters in seven innings as the San Francisco Giants recorded a 5-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

In a battle between a pair of pitchers who signed enormous free agent contracts, Zito got plenty of offensive support after perhaps his best start in a Giants uniform, while Chan Ho Park got no help at all from a suddenly shaky Los Angeles bullpen.

San Francisco got Zito (4-12) off the hook in the seventh in a furious two-out rally against the Dodgers bullpen.

Jose Castillo doubled to left center against Joe Beimel and Fred Lewis drove him in with a two-out single off Brian Falkenborg (0-1), knotting the score before Randy Winn drove in the go-ahead run on a grounder up the middle. Molina capped the rally with his two-run double.

"I just tried to stay in my rhythm," Zito said. "Chan Ho was tough tonight, so two (runs) might have been the difference, but we battled hard and the offense was outstanding. Putting up those runs was huge. They never gave up."

In the process, Zito posted his first win at AT&T Park since September 24 of last season and snapped an eight-game personal losing streak on the shores of McCovey Cove. Zito looked shaky early, but turned in one of his better performances of a rocky season, allowing two runs and six hits.

"It definitely feels good," Zito said. "I think sometimes you want to make the fans happy, but you can't worry too much about because if you stop pressing and just let things happen, you can be yourself out there and not try and do anything more is the key."

"It wasn't a great start there in that first inning, but I think he knew our situation," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We needed him to get us deep in the game. Just look at the stuff he had. Great command of all his pitches - he had them all working tonight."

Los Angeles manager Joe Torre, who witnessed Zito's best days in Oakland while guiding the New York Yankees, was impressed with what he saw from the lefthander.

"Once he started locating he kept us off balance," Torre said. "He threw 25 or so pitches in the first inning and after that he was a surgeon - changeup, curveball, mixed some fastballs - it just looked like he had great command. That's certainly closer to the pitcher he is as opposed to what you've seen earlier, for sure."

Los Angeles touched Zito for two early as Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier ripped back-to-back doubles to open the first inning. A run-scoring fielder's choice grounder from Andruw Jones staked the Dodgers to a 2-0 advantage.

Zito recovered and retired 13 straight, before Nomar Garciaparra singled with one out in the seventh. The former Cy Young winner struck out eight through five innings. It marked the 12th time he has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game - the last coming June 16, 2006 against the Dodgers.

"You have days you feel it and days you don't and he (Zito) did great and you tip your hat," Garciaparra said. "He threw his curveball well today, he was hitting his spots, he had his off-speed working and he was moving, he had command of two pitches and he won."

Garciaparra was also not concerned about Zito's much discussed changing arm angles.

"I'm not noticing or looking for an arm angle, I'm looking for the ball," Garciaparra said.

Park was equally effective, retiring the Giants in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings, before issuing a leadoff walk to Ray Durham in the sixth. Rowand made Park pay driving an RBI double down the right-field line just eluding the diving attempt by Kemp.

Park allowed one run and three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"Chan Ho did another great job for us, but we just didn't get the job done out of the bullpen," Torre said.

Brian Wilson tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to record his 24th save of the season.

"That was an amazing game he pitched today," Wilson said. "That wasn't by coincidence that we scored four runs for him to get that win because he struck out 10 guys right? His slider was on, curveball was on, fastball was locating well and he deserved that win. I'm glad to be a part of it."

San Francisco squandered a huge opportunity in the second, loading bases with one out against Park, but the veteran struck out Zito and then benefited from an outstanding defensive play. Second baseman Jeff Kent tormented his old team once again diving to his left snaring a shot off the bat of Fred Lewis.