SAN DIEGO — Barry Zito can talk about reincarnation and redemption, but only his record will make a compelling statement to Giants fans.

After his season debut, Zito found himself on the wrong side again. He couldn't pull the string on his curveball in the first inning and the San Diego Padres batted around while touching him for three runs in the Giants' 7-3 loss at Petco Park on Friday night.

Padres center fielder Scott Hairston, who tormented the Giants two seasons ago, made a running, leaping catch of Bengie Molina's deep drive to preserve a two-run lead in the top of the eighth. Then Hairston hit a three-run homer off Merkin Valdez in the bottom of the inning to seal the outcome.

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy targeted Zito as the player who stood to benefit the most from a long spring training, which was extended because of the World Baseball Classic. Bochy believed the left-hander, who was 0-8 in his first nine starts last season, would be poised for a turnaround after several encouraging starts toward the end of the exhibition season.

But even in brighter days, Zito wasn't a good pitcher in April. He is (13-25) in 45 career starts before May 1, and his 5.21 ERA in that period is far higher than any other month.

Zito (0-1) found himself in immediate trouble Friday. Leadoff hitter Scott Hairston singled on a flat curve, David Eckstein walked and Brian Giles pounded a pitch to the wall in right field for a double to score a run. Adrian Gonzalez hit an RBI ground out and Kevin Kouzmanoff blooped a single to drive in a third run.

The inning nearly turned from ugly to something much worse after a communication issue in the middle infield deprived Zito of the third out. Second baseman Emmanuel Burriss fielded a grounder and flipped to second base, assuming Edgar Renteria would be covering. For reasons apparent to no one, Renteria was late to the bag and the inning continued.

Zito escaped a total meltdown when he got pitcher Shawn Hill to pop up with the bases loaded. He threw 39 pitches in the inning.

Zito eventually gained his footing and his breaking ball, striking out four over his next three innings. But it was too late.

Perhaps more discouraging than Zito's outing was the Giants' effort against Hill, a right-hander who had such an unimpressive spring that the talent-poor Washington Nationals released him in March.

The Padres, who just about scavenged yard sales looking for serviceable arms, snapped up Hill on a minor league contract March 23 and added the Canadian to the roster.

Molina's blooper scored Renteria to get the Giants within two runs in the sixth, but they wasted a chance for a much bigger inning.

Pablo Sandoval followed with a sharp single to load the bases with nobody out, sending Padres Manager Bud Black to signal for one of his eight right-handed relievers.

Rookie Luke Gregerson got Travis Ishikawa to ground sharply to Gold Glove first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who threw to the plate to start a double play. Aaron Rowand ended the inning when he waved through consecutive pitches that were a foot outside the strike zone.

When the Giants made the loudest contact of the night, they weren't rewarded.

Molina crushed an apparent tying two-run home run to left-center in the eighth, but the ball didn't carry in the heavy air and Hairston made a running, leaping catch at the wall.

Molina clapped his arms to his helmet and stood stunned before finally turning to the dugout.

After Sandoval struck out on an eye-level fastball from Duaner Sanchez, Ishikawa hit a deep drive that Giles caught with his back against the wall in the right field corner.