Barry Zito

This from the San Jose Merc:

"With Mannywood shuttered and their team's home-victory streak already stopped, the glum fans at Dodger Stadium defaulted to a familiar catcall Friday night:

"Barry sucks!"

It was directed at Barry Zito, not Barry Bonds. And until recently, Giants fans probably would have joined in. But not anymore.

Zito's remarkable comeback story continued, and this time the pages were embossed with his first victory of the season. His eyes narrowed, Zito outpitched Dodgers ace Chad Billingsley as the Giants claimed a significant 3-1 victory over their archrivals.

The Giants are now two games above .500 for the first time in almost two years. They haven't reached these modest heights since they were 24-22 on May 23, 2007.

If they hope to build from here, this is the time. When the Dodgers woke up Thursday, they were 21-8, undefeated in 13 home games and held a 6? 1/2-game lead in the National League West. Then they learned that their star, Manny Ramirez, had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and would be suspended for 50 games.

The Giants have 11 more games remaining against the Dodgers, but this three-game series is their only chance to face them while Ramirez serves his suspension. Ramirez is due to return July 3; after this series, the teams won't meet again until mid-August.

While taking their bats to the field, a few Giants mentioned casually that they liked their chances in this series — especially if they could find a way to topple Billingsley, whom they hadn't beaten in 12 games (eight starts). They'll get Eric Stults and Jeff Weaver — two patches in the Dodgers' rotation — in the final two games.

Zito, their erstwhile ace, was ready for the challenge. He pitched with unflinching focus to keep the Dodgers scoreless through five innings. The teams traded runs in the sixth, and Zito was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh, but the Giants put him in line for the victory when Edgar Renteria's sacrifice fly scored Juan Uribe with the tiebreaking run in the seventh.

Zito registered his fourth consecutive quality start — something he hadn't done since a seven-start run Aug. 12 to Sept. 14, 2007 — and he worked hard for every out. His 126 pitches were two fewer than his career high and tied his highest pitch count in three seasons as a Giant."

boston sucks

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