Zito delivers as Giants extend lead over Dodgers

By Janie Mccauley

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Sept. 9 2012 9:25 p.m. MDT

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San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan slides to score against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept 9, 2012, in San Francisco. Pagan scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Giants' Marco Scutaro.

Ben Margot, Associated Press

Summary

Barry Zito came through in one of the most important outings in his San Francisco tenure, pitching the NL West-leading Giants past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Sunday night to extend their division lead to 5½ games.

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Zito came through in one of the most important outings in his San Francisco tenure, pitching the NL West-leading Giants past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Sunday night to extend their division lead to 5½ games.

Hunter Pence hit a two-run double in the first inning that held up and Buster Posey homered in San Francisco's fifth win in the last six meetings of the rivalry.

Marco Scutaro added a sacrifice fly to back an impressive performance by Zito (11-8), who allowed four hits in 6 1-3 scoreless innings to win his third straight decision. He combined with five relievers on the five-hit shutout

Joe Blanton (1-4) took the loss for Los Angeles (74-67), which dropped 1½ games back of St. Louis for the second NL wild card.

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