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Shields Wants More From Fans

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The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 27, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Tropicana Field being overrun by fans of the visiting team when the Red Sox or Yankees come to town is hardly a new phenomenon.

That doesn't mean it doesn't get old for the Rays to listen to chants of "Yoooouk" urging on Boston 1B Kevin Youkilis in their own park. Asked Saturday what he thought of the crowd for Friday night's game, which was heavily pro-Red Sox most of the way, Rays RHP James Shields didn't hold back.

"I didn't like it. I didn't," said Shields, who will start today's series finale. "When you see all red out there, it's pretty disappointing. I wish some of the Rays fans would come out and kind of counteract what the Red Sox fans and the Yankee fans do out here."

Perhaps the strangest part of the dynamic is the applause being backward. When the home team does something good, you're accustomed to hearing the crowd cheer. When the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, though, the noise comes at the opposite moments. At least until - as Shields was quick to point out - the Rays came up with a walk-off win in the 11th inning Saturday.

"We get pumped up when our crowd gets us in the ballgame, and they were cheering for the Red Sox all game Friday night and all of a sudden we won and the next thing you know they're cheering for us," Shields said. "It happens just because all the spring training games are here and a lot of people come down to Florida and they're from up north, so that's going to happen, but I wish the fans would come out and start rooting for us a little more."

GOOD ENOUGH: RHP Matt Garza's return to the rotation Friday night was far from perfect, but he was pleased that he was able to settle down after some initial jitters.

Garza said he had some confidence problems early on as he made his first start in 17 days, most notably in a 40-pitch second inning in which he walked three consecutive batters. Once he determined his arm felt OK, he started turning it loose and got into the mid-90s on the radar gun.

"I felt better - I felt way better," he said. "I felt more in control of my stuff and I wasn't sort of disappointed if I missed a pitch."

ENOUGH ALREADY: LHP Scott Kazmir will fly to Durham today with his final rehab appearance looming Monday night. After starting for the Bulls against Richmond and throwing about 90 pitches, he'll head on to Baltimore to join the Rays in anticipation of his season debut next weekend in Boston.

It's fair to say he's ready to go after spinning his wheels for about two months.

"I'm ready to pull my hair out, man," he said. "It's been too long since I've been on the field helping the team out. I just want to come in and contribute and be with my teammates."

Maddon said Kazmir "probably" will start next Sunday at Fenway Park.

INFIELD SWAP: Following Saturday's game, the Rays optioned IF Elliot Johnson back to Durham and purchased the contract of IF Andy Cannizaro.

The Rays said they wanted Johnson, who went 3-for-19 in seven games, to get more at-bats. Cannizaro will join the team today and step in as the backup shortstop. He was hitting .289 in 13 games for Durham.

NOTEWORTHY: RHP Al Reyes started for Vero Beach on Saturday and worked a scoreless inning, striking out two. Reyes is slated to throw another inning for Vero on Monday before being activated off the DL on Thursday. ... Montgomery RHP Eduardo Morlan, who came to the Rays from the Twins in the Delmon Young trade, went on the Biscuits' DL with a sore shoulder.

Marc Lancaster

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