PITTSBURGH (AP)—Barry Zito, demoted to the San Francisco Giants bullpen last week, is returning to the starting rotation without having made any relief appearances.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Zito will start Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh against the Pirates’ Phil Dumatrait (0-1). Zito, who a year ago signed a $126 million, seven-year contract, was sent to the bullpen last week after compiling a 7.53 ERA while losing his first six starts.
“Barry Zito’s going to start. He’s a starter,” Bochy said Tuesday. “We just gave him a break.”
Zito was San Francisco’s opening-day starter this season and became only the third pitcher since 1956 to go 0-6 before May, joining Texas’ Dave Stewart (1984) and Detroit’s Mike Maroth (2003). The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner with Oakland is a three-time All-Star.
Zito hasn’t pitched since April 27, when he gave up eight runs and seven hits in three innings during a 10-1 loss to the Reds.
“I think it was good to take a step back and get objective on some things,” Zito said. “I’m excited to get out there. I’m real excited to go pitch to hitters and take those adjustments into the game. … Now, it’s about me sticking with the game plan I know works, staying in that mind-set I know that got me here.”
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