The San Francisco Giants started the 2012 season 0-3 because of poor-to-awful starting pitching. Tim Lincecum was roughed up in his Opening Day start. Madison Bumgarner couldn't make it through five innings. Matt Cain was spotted a 6-0 lead, and ended up with a no-decision. That left it up to Barry Zito, scheduled to pitch against the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field. Sure.
Barry Zito Spins Season’s First Shutout. In Coors Field. Seriously.
Zito was masterful, throwing the first complete-game shutout of the 2012 Major League Baseball season. I don’t think anyone had Zito in the first-complete-game-shutout pool, but it’s like Mega Millions, and the pot just rolls over for the next one.
Zito didn’t allow a walk for the first time in a start since last July, and he pitched the 19th shutout in Coors Field history. It was the first by a Giants pitcher in Coors Field, and it was the first shutout for Zito since April 18, 2003. It’s not like this gets less weird with more factoids. It just gets weirder.
Manager Bruce Bochy let Zito go out for the ninth inning despite a pitch count over 100, and Zito finished the game with 114 pitches, nine of which went for swinging strikes. The Rockies got a runner to second base three times, but no farther.
It's April. We're four games into the 2012 season. This is your early reminder that you have absolutely no idea what baseball is up to. Barry Zito threw a shutout at Coors Field. I think if Todd Coffey hits for the cycle, the Rapture begins. It was a good run we had, humanity.
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