Editing Barry Zito (section)

====2001====
In 2001, Zito Switched his uniform number to 75 (which he would wear throughout the rest of his career) and finished third in the [[American League]] (AL) in strikeouts per nine innings (8.61), fourth in strikeouts (205), sixth in wins (17), eighth in ERA (3.49), and tenth in [[winning percentage]] (.680).<ref name=br-stats>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/z/zitoba01.shtml |title=Barry Zito Statistics| work=Baseball-Reference| access-date=October 1, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071005115928/http://www.baseball-reference.com/z/zitoba01.shtml| archive-date= October 5, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Zito became the sixth lefty aged 23 or younger since 1902 to strike out at least 200 batters in a season. After a great rookie season, Zito struggled through the early part of the 2001 season, posting a 6–7 record with a 5.01 ERA in his first 22 starts. However, he rebounded nicely and by August, he was putting up good pitching numbers. Zito was named [[Pitcher of the Month]] in August, going 5–1 with a 1.02 ERA. Zito won Pitcher of the Month again in September, going 6–0 with a 1.89 ERA. During those last two months of the season, Zito went a combined 11–1 with a 1.32 ERA, best in baseball.<ref name="MLB"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=zitoba01&t=p&year=2001 |title=Barry Zito 2001 Pitching Gamelogs |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

The Athletics made the postseason and again played the Yankees in the [[2001 American League Division Series|ALDS]]. Zito pitched in Game 3 against [[Mike Mussina]]. He went eight innings, striking out six, walking one, and allowing an earned run. But Zito took the loss as the Yankees won the game, 1–0.<ref name="MLB"/> The Yankees would end up taking the series, 3–2.<ref>{{cite web |last=Slusser |first=Susan |url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Curtain-falls-on-A-s-Yanks-complete-ALDS-2869015.php |title=Curtain falls on A's / Yanks complete ALDS comeback |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=October 16, 2001 |access-date=October 23, 2013}}</ref>