CLEVELAND — When Barry Zito said he was encouraged with his improved stuff in the bullpen and claimed to be close to turning a corner, it would have been easy for Giants fans to roll their eyes.

Right, and Zito rode his pet unicorn to the ballpark, too.

Except Zito wasn't living a fantasy. He had the equipment to get hitters out. He just needed to bring it to the mound.

He did Wednesday. Zito returned to an American League venue and pulled a start out of his Cy Young past, blanking the Cleveland Indians into the seventh inning as the Giants took a 4-1 victory at Progressive Field.

It might have been Zito's most encouraging effort since signing a seven-year, $126 million contract prior to last season.

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy and Zito agreed that a meeting with coaches and General Manager Brian Sabean helped the left-hander focus on giving the team innings and putting results out of mind.

"If I look at my record and stats, it really can't get worse," said Zito, who improved to 3-11 and lowered his ERA to 5.91. "I think it's good not to worry about failing anymore because, A) it hasn't worked in the past, and B) who cares? I know I can deal with it.

"It's more going out and pitching your game, be free and don't worry about controlling everything."

Zito held the Indians to four hits over 6·innings and didn't allow a runner into scoring position until Kelly Shoppach doubled to end his night. The left-hander snapped the ball into his glove, unhappy to see Bochy trod out of the dugout.

Keiichi Yabu allowed a single that scored Shoppach, but that was the only blemish on Zito's record. He didn't walk a batter, and what's more, he didn't have a 3-0 or 3-1 count all night.

It was just the fourth time in 49 starts as a Giant that Zito didn't issue a walk.

"Letting it go, letting it fly, and trusting yourself is the key," Zito said. "It's the hardest thing to do in life and baseball. It's something I haven't done a lot this year, but I plan to do.

"It's just about being aggressive and putting the pressure on them instead of myself."

Zito had worked to lower his arm angle, allowing him to add velocity and get more movement on his sinking, two-seam fastball. But the results didn't follow him into games, and after lasting just two innings in his previous outing June 18 against the Tigers, Zito ran the risk of drumming himself out of the rotation again.

He said the mechanical tweaks were only part of the reason for his stunning, one-start turnaround.

"It's about self-trust," Zito said. "It's something I can do — something I've done."

The Giants had Zito throw his last bullpen session off the game mound at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday in the hopes it would help him make a mental adjustment.

He looked resolute from the outset as he threw an 87 mph fastball, a curveball and a slider to Grady Sizemore. The Indians' leadoff hitter took the first two pitches for strikes and whiffed at the third.

Zito hit 88 mph on the stadium gun while striking out the next batter, Jamey Carroll.

"You look at his stats and he has more walks than strikeouts, so you want to be patient," Carroll said. "But tonight he was a little different. He was like the old Zito."

Said Bochy: "That's the Zito we know. He has unbelievable talent. We've said all along it's a matter of time before he gets back on track."

An early lead might have helped Zito relax, too. Aaron Rowand hit a two-run single in the first inning. Jose Castillo, who finished a triple short of the cycle, belted a solo home run in the third inning.

Bochy said he didn't want to push Zito any further because the left-hander had thrown 108 pitches and hadn't gone deep into games lately. Bochy left it unsaid, but he had to recognize the importance of preserving a clean start that could catapult Zito into the rest of the summer.

"It was time we picked him up," Bochy said.