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Shields Finishes Off Sweep In Style
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Published: April 28, 2008
Updated:
ST. PETERSBURG - No one makes small talk with James Shields on days he pitches, and he appeared particularly prickly Sunday.
"I didn't want to go near him," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
The Red Sox couldn't get near him.
Shields' two-hit, complete-game shutout of the defending World Series champions, a 3-0 victory that lifted Tampa Bay into a tie for first place in the American League East, may reverberate well beyond Sunday afternoon if the Rays are who they believe they are.
"We have a different attitude now," Shields said. "We've had this positive attitude since Day One of spring training and this is what we're talking about. This is what it's all about, and I want everyone to know that we can compete in this league."
Obviously it's way too early for the standings to really mean anything, but the Rays bulled their way into all sorts of uncharted territory during the weekend.
Not only do they hold a share of first place (with the Orioles, percentage points ahead of Boston) at the latest date ever, but also they have never been three games over .500 (14-11) this deep into any season.
Not only did the Rays sweep the Red Sox in a series of at least three games for the first time in their 11-year history, but also they put together a 7-2 homestand that represents their second-best against at least three opponents.
So, yes, all the appropriate time-of-year disclaimers were included, but this was a big deal for the Rays.
"Of course it's wonderful to win these three games and against the Red Sox, but I like the way we're playing," Maddon said. "We're playing the game right. If you play the game right on a nightly basis, you'll win your share of games."
Those who have been around for a while didn't deny that in the past the Rays wouldn't have quibbled with taking two of three from a tormentor like the Sox. If they ran into a hot Josh Beckett in the series finale - which they did, as Boston's ace fanned a career-high 13 - they might have tipped their caps and commended themselves on a rare series win.
It appears times really are changing at Tropicana Field.
"Two out of three was good," Evan Longoria said, "but nobody came to the clubhouse today thinking that was good enough."
Certainly not Shields.
"I wanted it bad," he said.
That was evident from the beginning. As Beckett was striking out the first five Rays he faced and fanning a total of eight in the first three innings, Shields faced the minimum 12 hitters through the first four frames.
He walked Manny Ramirez to lead off the fifth and vented his displeasure with himself, but nothing came of it. Julio Lugo singled with one out in the following inning, but that was it for the Red Sox. Shields retired the final 11 men he faced to secure the first shutout of his career in only 98 pitches.
The Rays' Opening Day starter had allowed only 11 earned runs in his first five starts, but all agreed he hadn't yet displayed the kind of stuff that made him the Rays' most dangerous pitcher much of last season. Sunday, he found it.
"When he was warming up, I knew it was going to be good," catcher Dioner Navarro said.
"It was amazing," shortstop Jason Bartlett said. "I'm out there and I can see what pitches he's going to throw. Every pitch that Navi called, it was right where he wanted it."
Of course, Beckett also was zoned in throughout the afternoon, but the Rays managed to push across the runs they needed. Bartlett created the first one on his own, singling in the third inning and coming all the way around to score when Beckett fired a pickoff throw down the right-field line and J.D. Drew's throw back toward the infield rolled harmlessly along the turf.
Longoria then led off the seventh by smacking a hanging curveball 416 feet into the stands in left for a 2-0 lead, and the Rays added one more in the eighth when Bartlett was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a Carl Crawford double.
Add those fortuitous moments to Shields' work and the Rays will take a six-game winning streak on the road Tuesday.
"It's been one of the best weeks in franchise history," Crawford said. "We're just going to try to keep it going right now. We've got that feeling of winning and we kind of like it."
Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( drausue ) on April 28, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am a season ticket holder and this was without a doubt the best baseball I ahve seen in years. Amazing how quiet the Sox fans were on Sunday. To all of the Rays... GREAT GAMES!!!!!
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Posted by ( bigbbfan ) on April 28, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
We go to every Saturday home game. Last Saturday's game was so much fun. It was great to hear all the cowbells ringing and see all the ticked off Red Sux fans. PRICELESS!!!
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Posted by ( superguyent ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Are you kidding me. At the end of the year your Rays will still be behind Baltimore and Toronto in the American East Basement under .500. The way everyone makes it sound is that they are on their way to the world series as they just completed a 90 win season and have home feild in the playoffs.
Yeah so you beat the sox 3 whole times, give it a few months and then see where you stand then. The season is young and anyone can get hot for a few weeks, but that is why they play 162 games to weed out the pretenders. But then again since the Rays have never one a series like this there is room in Tampa Town for celebration. Rays win Rays win, next you all will be putting a " We swept the Sox in April 08" banner in the trops rafters. The only time all year you will sell out the trop is when the Yankees and Sox are in town... why is that because everyone in Tampa knows that in a few weeks the rays will be 20 games under .500.
Come back to this post in late August and everyone in T-town will be whining about how bad the Rays season sucked again this year and should Joe Madden be fired, with the same swirling questions about ownership and what sub par player the rays can pick up for 09, as the Sox and Yankees will be sligging it out for the American League East title.
So enjoy this for the next few weeks because if I was a betting man I would wager my house that it won't happen again against either the sox or yankees.
Rays Win, stop playing and give em the WS rings right now, dial mayor Pam and schedule the parade because the rays finally swept a series.
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Posted by ( bigfatgynabt ) on April 28, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have been the first to complain about this team in the past, but this year has given me new hope. The pitching is finally coming around. We have heard that before, but this time I am excited about where this team can end up. Watching John Kruk and Peter Gammons talk about the Rays the way they have the past week should be as big an indicator that good things are ahead as any other. This team could well end up over .500 and competing for a wild card spot. Both would be a big deal for a franchise that has been the laughing stock of basball for the past 11 years.
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