Cardinals 5, Giants 2: Dammit if Barry Zito didn't deserve better. If Giants' defenders made two extremely makeable plays tonight, he would have given up three runs at most. In the first inning, Fred Lewis lost a ball in the lights, or in the stands, or in the grass, or in his mind, and what should have been one out, man on first, turned into second and third, no outs, and eventually three runs scored without another ball into the outfield. Zito wasn't blameless: he nibbled, he walked Yadier Molina with the bases loaded, he screwed up a play at first base (though it didn't lead to extra runs). He was not overpowering, and thus he couldn't wiggle out of a jam not entirely of his own making.
In the fifth inning, with runners on second and third, no out, Ishikawa fielded a ground ball and had a play at the plate but bobbled it. Instead he got the sure out at first. After an intentional walk for Pujols, Justin Miller came in, hung a slider that Ludwick whacked up the middle, and the Cards had their fifth run, all earnies charged to Zito. His seven Ks tell you he had good stuff tonight, but not good enough to escape from his teammates' sloppy play and, as so often befalls Zito this year, zippo run support.
I gave the team slack last night because Adam Wainwright was doing his nasty thing, but tonight the Cards started Todd Wellemeyer, who has sucked all year. Not against the Giants. Funny how that works.
I'm giving Zito the benefit of the doubt tonight, but since June began he has snuck back more frequently to the Bad Barry Barrio, which raises a caution flag: What if The Big Unit continues his pattern -- seven innings max, more likely 5+ with two or three runs allowed -- and the Zito revival we saw earlier this year completely fades out? Add to that a unsettled fifth slot, and suddenly the Giants' spectacular rotation becomes Lincecum, Cain and pray the Unit's not feeling back pain. I'm not pushing any panic buttons, but it's never too early to have a quiet discussion with slightly sweaty palms. Are you worried? Do the Giants have enough starting pitching depth? Discuss.
