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Shields Keeps It Together, Pena Finishes Comeback

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By CARTER GADDIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Try as they might during a third inning reminiscent of the worst days of a franchise haunted by many bad days, the Devil Rays simply couldn't come crashing back to Earth on Monday against the Orioles.
James Shields and Carlos Pena wouldn't let them.

As if Shields needed more evidence to secure his place among the rising aces of the American League, he struck out six in seven innings in the 9-7 victory to reach the coveted 200-inning mark - and he did so by putting that ugly third inning immediately out of his mind.

And as if Pena's AL Comeback Player of the Year candidacy needed more reinforcing, the 28-year-old first baseman - who made the team as a non-roster invitee to spring training - broke a seventh-inning tie with his 35th home run, setting a Devil Rays' single-season record.

In addition, the Rays won for the ninth time in their past 11 games playing the final six innings without left fielder Carl Crawford, who was so angry with a third-inning call by first-base umpire Paul Nauert that the Rays' All-Star might be facing a suspension after being ejected for the third time in his major-league career.

During Baltimore's four-run third inning, Shields (11-8) battled through an infield single by Melvin Mora, a bloop single by Tike Redman, a botched double-play ball by shortstop Josh Wilson (his fifth error in three games prevented the inning from ending), a soft two-run single by Corey Patterson, a throwing error by catcher Dioner Navarro and a hard double by Kevin Millar.

'I told him after he came out, 'That was the best composure I've seen you have in these two years,'' said Rays manager Joe Maddon.

Three of the four runs were unearned, but that was small solace after Baltimore built a quirky 4-0 lead.

'It's tough, but the way we're playing right now, I have a lot of confidence in our guys to come back,' Shields said. 'And we did.'

Pena's ninth home run in his last 15 games gave the Rays their first lead in the seventh. It came two innings after Pena was hit in the helmet, just above the right ear, by a Rocky Cherry fastball.

And it was hit high. How high? It cleared the 'B' ring catwalk in right field and fell straight down onto the 'C' ring for an automatic home run. It was the fifth time Pena hit a catwalk in fair territory, the most in a season.

He said it was an honor to move past Aubrey Huff (2003) and Jose Canseco (1999) for the team's single-season home run record.

'You don't think about those things,' Pena said. 'They just happen.'

Crawford said he could not remember being angrier, in any situation, than he was when Nauert called him out at first in the third inning - even though replays showed shortstop Miguel Tejada's throw had clearly drawn first baseman Millar off the bag toward home plate.

A run scored on the play, the Rays' first of the night. Crawford, surprised at being called out, leaped into the air and tore his helmet off, flinging it hard to the ground. Then he made his way toward Nauert, with first-base coach George Hendrick quickly moving to intercept.

Which turned out to be a good thing, according to Crawford, who leaped onto Hendrick's back trying to get at Nauert, forcing the coach to make contact with the umpire. That's probably grounds for suspension, regardless of the call's inaccuracy.

'I don't want to get suspended,' Crawford said, 'but you can't really argue with the fact of what happened tonight.'

Crawford was last ejected on April 12, 2006, after arguing an out call at the plate in Baltimore. That was the day he leaped into the air and twisted his knee, but he said his anger that day didn't come close to comparing with how mad he was Monday.

'You go watch the tape of this,' Crawford said, 'it makes you want to run back from the clubhouse outside again.'

Reporter Carter Gaddis can be reached at (813) 259-8291 or igaddis@tampatrib.com.

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