"Bruce Bochy and his staff elected to skip what would have been Barry Zito's start against the Brewers on Friday night, but Zito will return to the rotation Wednesday to face fellow lefty Cole Hamels in the second game of the series in Philadelphia.

A foot injury kept Zito on the disabled list for two months. He returned June 28 and made three excellent starts; he went 3-0, allowing three earned runs and 13 hits in 21 innings.

His first post-All-Star-break outing was a stinker in San Diego - eight earned runs, including two homers, in 3 2/3 innings - prompting his temporary exile from the rotation.

On Saturday, Zito admitted he wasn't thrilled about losing a start, but he didn't grouse about it.

"I want to be on the mound," Zito said, "so I didn't like hearing that I wasn't going to be. But, you've got to stand behind Boch and his decision."

Zito's analysis of why things went so wrong at Petco Park when they had gone so swimmingly in his previous three starts:

"I wasn't focusing on the right things. When you're in the moment and you're focusing pitch to pitch, that's when things go well, for the most part, because you're executing.

"So, there was a lack of execution there because there was a lack of focus."

Citizens Bank Park clearly favors hitters, and though the Phillies haven't been nearly as productive offensively this season as they have in recent years, they still own a formidable lineup. Zito says he won't concern himself with those things."