The former used to have the all-time record for home runs.

The latter is making a case for all-time worst contract.

Barry Zito lost again yesterday, 5-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The man who has his $126 million price tag all but stamped on his forehead fell to 8-11 with a 5.13 ERA.

This outing wasn't terrible — three runs over six innings — but he was booed again by his home fans in losing to the National League's worst team, which is hardly what the Giants had in mind when Zito signed his name on the dotted line.

He was outpitched by left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, 25, who threw his first career shutout. Josh Phelps had the big hit, a two-run homer in the sixth, as the Pirates concluded a three-game sweep at AT&T Park.

"I wish I could snap my fingers and have it all back," Zito said of his erstwhile dominance. "But you just have to build off the little things."

Shortly after Zito signed in late December, he spoke confidently about taking the heat off Barry Bonds. He said reporters could talk to him if they wanted a story, an arrangement that would spare Bonds some of the boundless scrutiny.

Instead, the opposite happened: Bonds' home run show overshadowed Zito's struggles. When Bonds hit No. 756 on Tuesday, no one mentioned that Zito's shaky start that night gave him a 6.91 ERA over an 11-game stretch.

But the spotlight has shifted from history to misery.

"I'm sure he has taken some of these rough outings hard," Manager Bruce Bochy said. "He wants to do well here at home. He wants to reciprocate a contract."

Zito is in the first of a seven-year deal, so there is plenty of time to reverse his fortunes. He did that to a small degree yesterday, when he opened the game by walking the bases loaded, then working out of the jam without allowing a run.

That was no small feat. With a doubleheader scheduled for today, Bochy needed a long outing from Zito to save the bullpen, a message he made clear during a first-inning visit to the mound.

"I told him, 'You're going to have to figure this out. I'm not going to get somebody up,"' Bochy said.

Zito was sharper after that, although he surrendered an RBI single to Cesar Izturis in the second and Phelps' homer in the sixth.

The Giants managed just five hits against Gorzelanny. Zito, meanwhile, came out after six innings and 111 pitches. He has delivered more than seven innings only twice in 25 starts.

At 29, Zito is young enough to rebound. But, for now, he is threatening to join an infamous list of sour deals.

Darren Dreifort signed a five-year, $55 million contract in 2001, then went 9-15 with a 4.53 ERA during an injury-plagued career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mike Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million deal with Colorado, but went 21-28 with a 5.78 ERA in two years before he was traded.

Chan Ho Park got $65 million over five years from the Texas Rangers, then earned the nickname "Heave Ho Park" by posting a 5.75 ERA in his first season with Texas.

And Zito? The Giants hope he can build off yesteday's positives.

"His confidence started growing as the game went on," Bochy said. "I think it's an outing he should feel good about."

At least the Giants will save a little money this year. Zito gets $500,000 for winning the Cy Young Award once, $750,000 for winning twice and $1 million for three or more.

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