SAN FRANCISCO — There’s no way to measure Pablo Sandoval’s impact on the Giants this season.

But Tuesday night’s 3-0 victory over the Florida Marlins was less Pablo, more Zicasso.
That’s the oft-ridiculed nickname coined by agent Scott Boras to describe Barry Zito, but the $126 million left-hander epitomized it on a chilly night at China Basin. Zito painted the corners and turned the page on a spate of rough outings, coming within two outs of his first shutout in six years as the Giants positioned themselves for a three-game sweep.
The crowd booed as Manager Bruce Bochy walked out to remove Zito after Wes Helms hit a one-out single in the ninth. Zito, who had retired the previous nine hitters, walked off the mound to a standing ovation.
Zito (5-8) just missed his fifth career shutout; it would have been his first since April 18, 2003, for the A’s against Texas.
With closer Brian Wilson standing on the bullpen mound, Sergio Romo struck out Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu to record his first career save. A night earlier, Wilson had thrown 37 pitches while nearly blowing a three-run lead.
Bengie Molina hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and Juan Uribe, sporting a new Mohawk, hit a two-run home run in the fifth against All-Star right-hander Josh Johnson, who was beaten for the first time since May 19.
Giants fans gave up long ago on the idea of Zito being an All-Star performer. They’d be happy with a serviceable No. 5 starter. But with Randy Johnson on the disabled list, it’s more vital than ever that Zito gives the Giants solid starts.
He held the Marlins to four hits, walked one and struck out six. He allowed only one runner into scoring position.
For all the talk of Zito’s improvement this season, he had begun to stray off course. His ERA had climbed to 4.82 after an erratic June in which he recorded just three outs beyond the sixth inning.
He had the right opponent to reset himself, though. Zito improved to 4-0 in five career starts against the Marlins, holding them to a .183 average over that span. Further easing the task, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez remained sidelined because of a strained hip.
Ramirez hasn’t played in the series, which is no small advantage for the Giants. In his past 12 games, the gifted All-Star is hitting .438 with six home runs and a staggering 26 RBIs.
Zito allowed only one runner in scoring position, when Johnson hit a one-out single in the sixth inning and Emilio Bonifacio walked. It was the only free pass Zito issued in the game.
With Brandon Medders warming in the bullpen, Helms flied out and Zito escaped the inning with a well-placed change-up to Uggla, who popped up to first baseman Travis Ishikawa.
Randy Winn hit a leadoff double in the fourth, tagged up on Sandoval’s drive to the warning track in center field and crossed the plate without a play on Molina’s deep fly-out.
It was Molina’s 10th sacrifice fly of the season, which leads the major leagues. Last year, Molina tied for the major league lead with 11 sacrifice flies.
With his new haircut, Uribe is a few dozen gold chains away from being a dead ringer for Mr. T. He already has a spot on the Giants’ A-team, earning an everyday role at second base after beginning the season in an utility role.
After playing most of the first half with Emmanuel Burriss at second base, the Giants are reaping the benefit of Uribe’s greater power potential in the No. 8 spot. Johnson aimed a fastball on the inside corner but missed over the plate, and Uribe took full advantage.
Sandoval, one of the candidates in online balloting for a final All-Star roster spot, had a quiet night at the plate. But the third baseman knocked down Jorge Cantu’s hard grounder to start a double play that ended the fourth inning.