VIDEO: Barry Zito makes 1st appearance with Athletics since 2006
Barry Zito is back in the Oakland Athletics' green and gold.
The 37-year-old left-hander made his first appearance in the big leagues since 2013, and his first in an Athletics uniform since 2006, when he entered to pitch the eighth inning against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
After forcing Carlos Correa to ground out and putting Jed Lowrie on base with a walk, Zito allowed a two-run home run to Colby Rasmus, but not before he fooled him with some high-60s junk.
The former Athletic signed a minor-league deal with Oakland in February and was placed on the major-league roster in mid-September after Jesse Chavez went down with a fractured rib.
"Just being in spring training with them was awesome," Zito told reporters. "Obviously, being able to be a part of the team in the regular season is a huge bonus, for sure. I didn't expect it, that's an understatement."
Zito spent the first seven years of his career with Oakland, earning a Cy Young in 2002 before famously bolting for the San Francisco Giants thanks to a seven-year offering worth $126 million, which was the highest for any pitcher in major-league history at the time.
The contract didn't work out in the Giants' favor, as Zito posted a 63-80 record with a 4.62 ERA in 197 starts.