Barry Zito Aims to Continue Strong Start

Is Barry Zito the San Francisco Giants' best pitcher?

Probably not but fans are curious to see how the long-struggling pitcher will look after throwing a complete game four-hit shutout in his first start of the season.

Few believe that the left-hander, who once had a devastating curve ball, has finally found his groove after five seasons in San Francisco.

But the former Cy Young Award winner will be able to silence critics for at least another week if he can go out and replicate his first start of the season Saturday.

Zito will face off against Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park on Saturday at 6:05 pm.

The Giants are coming off of perhaps their best pitching performance of the year in their home opener.

Matt Cain took the mound and pitched a complete game shut out Friday after an emotional ceremony honoring Giants' fan Bryan Stowe, who was beaten into a coma last year on opening day by rival fans.

Zito will look to follow Cain's outing with another gem of his own. But fans are hesitant to embrace the former Oakland Athletics pitcher, in part because they have seen flashes of brilliance before only to be let down.

No. 75 has started off seasons hot before. In 2010 he started the season 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA before tanking the rest of the year.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on NBC Bay Area sister station CSN Bay Area.

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