The problem is, his pitching has been so awful lately that management discussed for days the possibility of making him a reliever. One day after his worst start of the season, the move was made.

Manager Bruce Bochy announced that Zito, who's 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, would work as a long reliever, hoping he'll get his act together.

"This is the bed I made, and I have to lay in it for the time being," Zito said after learning of his demotion from Bochy.

Owner Peter Magowan was asked if he's second-guessing the $126 million, seven-year contract the Giants gave Zito.

"I'll give a better answer to that in four or five years," he said. "I'm very disappointed. Barry is, too. Neither one of us signed up for this, and we both know that."

Lefty Pat Misch will take Zito's spot in the rotation and start Friday in Philadelphia. The Giants didn't say how long Zito would stay in the bullpen, though it'll likely depend on how well he pitches. If he continues to struggle, what reason would the Giants have to give him his job back?

"It's a good time to take a good, hard look at how I've approached things and evaluate it," Zito said. "Sometimes in life, you have to make a change and adjustments. Sometimes, for whatever reason, you're stubborn. ... Sometimes you know how to act going into a game, and you act a different way."

GIANTS 4, ROCKIES 0: The Giants notched their fourth shutout, tops in the major leagues. Matt Cain pitched into the sixth inning, and Vinnie Chulk, Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson finished. The Rockies singled twice with two outs in the ninth, but Wilson struck out Todd Helton to end it. The Giants scored twice in the first on RBI singles by Ray Durham and Aaron Rowand, and added two more runs in the fifth when Rockies pitchers issued five walks.