Giants' Zito to start World Series Game 1

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Barry Zito will be the starting pitcher for San Francisco in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday.

Zito will face the Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander in Wednesday's opener at AT&T Park.

Giants teammates credited Zito with turning around the team's fortunes in the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals last week.

Trailing 3-games-to-1 and on the verge of elimination, the Giants got 7 2/3 shutout innings from the left-hander en route to a 5-0 victory to keep their season alive.

They went on to take two more from the defending world champions, claiming the 22nd NL pennant in their 129-year history.

The honor represents a major turnaround for Zito, who was kept off the Giants' post-season roster during their run to the 2010 World Series title due to a string of ineffective performances.