Zito Rocked By Padres in 10-1 Loss

Jul 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito (75) reacts after a solo home run by San Diego Padres right fielder Chris Denorfia (back) during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Barry Zito‘s road troubles continued in San Diego on Sunday afternoon. After Tim Lincecum‘s first career no-hitter against the Padres on Saturday, and a 3 game winning streak, the Giants had to coming back into PETCO Park feeling pretty good about themselves. In the top of the 1st inning, it looked as if the offensive success would continue after Andres Torres led the game off with a stand up triple and was quickly knocked home by Marco Scutaro. As soon as Barry Zito took the mound, and the Giants took the field, that “old” team on the serious slump showed their dirty faces again.

In the bottom of the 1st, Zito gave up 1 walk and 2 hits, including a home run to Chris Denorfia. Had Everth Cabrera not been picked off during Denorfia’s at-bad, it would have been a 2 run shot instead of a solo home run. Of course, none of that mattered in the end since the Giants didn’t manage to score again after the Top of the 1st.

Zito’s struggles continued in the 2nd inning with Zito giving up back-to-back home runs to Nick Hundley and Will Venable. Bruce Bochy pulled Zito in the top of the 3rd after he gave up a leadoff walk to Cabrera. Jake Dunning replaced Zito, but didn’t fare much better. He hit the first batter (Denorfia) he faced and allowed 3 runs on 2 hits. He only managed to get 2 outs before Bochy replaced him with Javier Lopez. Lopez faced 3 batters, allowing 2 hits, but managed to get the final out to get the Giants out of the 3rd inning.

George Kontos, fresh off suspension, pitched 2 innings, giving up 3 hits, including another home run, and 3 runs (2 ER). Santiago Casilla made his first appearance with the Giants since being activated off the DL. After some not-so-great rehab starts, Casilla pitched a solid 6th inning, facing 4 batters and allowing just 1 hit. He did his job and gave the Giants and uneventful 6th inning. Jeremy Affeldt and Sandy Rosario finished the game out with a perfect inning each. Of course, with the Giants bats going dead, it made no difference in the game expect perhaps keeping the run difference in the single digits.

Maybe the bullpen was rusty from having the night off last night in Lincecum’s no-hitter, or perhaps the entire team stayed out too late celebrating. Either way, it was a disappointing game to end before the All-Star break, but they did win the series 3 games out of 4, so that, my friends, is a positive trend.