No “Fun” for Zito in the third!

It was Friday night and I was torn between watching J.T. O'Sullivan, Alex Smith and Shaun Hill of the 49ers or Barry Zito taking on the Dodgers. I primarily watched the Giants game, but all three 49ers quarterbacks were less that spectacular in the 18-6 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Giants, were not much better.

For the Giants and Barry Zito the wheels fell off in the third inning. In Zitos most resent comments he stressed the correlation between having fun with his positive results. The fun came to an end in the third against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On a 3-2 count Zito, with no outs, gave up a home run to Danny Ardoin. This was his first home run in three years. The home run was followed by two singles by (pitcher) Brad Penny and Matt Kemp. Zito then walked Russell Martin to load the bases. Jeff Kent then hit a shot to right field (double), to clear the bases. Manny Ramirez flies out for the first out. Casey Blake sacrifice flied to right field, which moved Kent over to third. Zito then walked Andrew Jones. Angle Berroa hit a shot to left field. This wold score Kent. Lewis guns it to Ivan Ochoa to Bengie Molina to get Jones at home plate for the third out.

Zito came back for more in the fourth. He gave up a lead off walk to Ardoin. Then Penny bunted him over. Zito made a good play to pick off Ardoin, in an attempt to get back second. Then Kemp Flied out to left. Zito would continue to pitch the 5th. Dodgers leading 5-1.

Both Zito and Penny would be done after the fifth inning. For San Francisco, Keiichi Yabu would pitch the sixth and seventh. Geno Espineli would get the call for the eighth and ninth. Los Angeles would counter with Cory Wade for the sixths and Chan Ho Park for the last three innings. Both pens gave up a home run in there perspective four innings of work.

Keiichi Yabu gave up a home run to Casey Blake in the 6th. Yabu also gave up two walks in the inning. However, neither of these would score. Dodger would now lead 6-1. Bengie Molina would answer with a home run a one run, home run in the bottom of the sixth. This would be the final score...Dodgers 6-2.

As the curtain begins to close on the Giants season, it is just opening for the 49ers.

SF Pitch Count:
Barry Zito (SF): 92 total pitch count - 52 Strikes / 40 Balls
Keiichi Yabu (SF): 45 total pitch count - 25 Strikes / 20 Balls
Geno Espineli (SF): 27 total pitch count - 19 Strikes / 8 Balls

LA Pitch Count:
Brad Penny (LA): 76 total pitch count - 44 Strikes / 32 Balls
Cory Wade (LA): 27 total pitch count - 16 Strikes / 11 Balls
Chan Ho Park (LA): 36 total pitch count - 21 Strikes / 16 Balls
Jonathan Broxton (LA): 7 total pitch count - 3 Strikes / 4 Balls

SF Lineup:
Winn (RF), Ochoa (SS), Lewis (LF), Molina (C), Rowand (CF), Bowker (1B), Aurilia (3B), Burriss (2B)

Photo: by rKnight
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rknight/1429494246/sizes/m/