Sun May 18 00:26:00 2008

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Zito's futility continues as ChiSox dump Giants

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San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle pitched into the seventh inning and the Chicago White Sox sent Barry Zito to his eighth loss of the season with a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Zito (0-8) was charged with eight hits and two runs, walking a season-high six and striking out four, to become the first Giants starter to lose his first eight decisions since Jesse Burkett in 1890. Zito, who was skipped in the rotation for one turn following his April 27 start versus Cincinnati, is the first Giants pitcher to drop his opening eight decisions since reliever Rod Beck went 0-9 in 1996. Zito has also lost six straight interleague decisions.

Buehrle (2-5) allowed seven hits and a run, while walking three and logging one strikeout to snap a five-decision losing streak. Bobby Jenks threw the ninth inning for his 10th save.

Jermaine Dye had three hits and scored once for the White Sox, who won for the seventh time in 10 games despite leaving 14 men on base. Toby Hall also had three hits in the victory.

Jose Castillo had a pair of hits and scored a run for the Giants, losers of four in a row.

Dye singled off reliever Keiichi Yabu with two outs in the sixth and went to second on the pitcher's throwing error. Paul Konerko, who was mired in a 2-for-21 slump, then came through with an RBI single to center for a 3-1 difference.

The Giants threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Octavio Dotel replaced Buehrle and fanned Randy Winn to end the inning.

Carlos Quentin's sacrifice fly to right scored Orlando Cabrera in the first inning, and it became 2-0 in the next frame when Cabrera's fly out drove in Alexei Ramirez.

San Francisco's lone run came in the fifth when a groundout from pinch-hitter Eugenio Velez scored Castillo.

Game Notes

Winn extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Zito fell to 8-3 lifetime against the White Sox....The Giants went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven on base.