Barry Zito put together a quality start Monday night and he even got some offensive backing, but he still couldn't nail down his first victory of 2008.

Zito was the sharpest he's been all season through the first five innings, but his location wasn't quite as good in the sixth. He fell behind several batters -- including, most dangerously, the red-hot Lance Berkman. Berkman lined a 3-1 changeup over the wall in left center, a two-run shot and Berkman's 13th homer of the season.

Still, there were many positives for Zito. His fastball was hitting 85 mph regularly and hit 86 mph once or twice, the hardest he's thrown. His changeup was effective the first five innings, helping him against right-handers.

Plus, there were the runs: Zito entered the game with just 1.87 runs per game in support when he's on the mound, the lowest total in the league. In his first seven starts, opposing starters went 7-0 with a 1.34 ERA, suffocating the Giants.

ASTROS 7, GIANTS 3: The Giants held a 3-0 lead after RBI doubles by Fred Lewis and Omar Vizquel in the third and a solo homer by rookie John Bowker in the fourth, but the Astros tied it in the sixth against Barry Zito, with Lance Berkman providing a two-run homer.

Houston's Roy Oswalt retired the final 14 men he faced and Jose Valverde retired Ray Durham with the bases loaded in the ninth to end the game.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.