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Shields, Rays Pick Up Another Win
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Published: July 24, 2008
Updated: 07/24/2008 12:22 am
ST. PETERSBURG - While the cozy, air-conditioned confines of Tropicana Field have brought out the best in Rays starter James Shields, Wednesday's outing, at least through two innings, had all the trappings of a game Tampa Bay has gotten used to losing the past three weeks.
Oakland's Emil Brown and Carlos Gonzalez hit back-to-back solo homers to start the second, putting the Rays in an early hole. But if Shields was rattled, he didn't show it. And if he was worried about the slumping Rays' offense getting him back in the game ... well, he wasn't.
The once-slumbering Jonny Gomes and Ben Zobrist, who was right in thinking he would be optioned to Triple-A Durham after the game, provided an unlikely set of back-to-back homers in the fifth to match the A's. Then Zobrist's RBI single in the seventh proved to be the difference in the Rays' 4-3 victory before an announced crowd of 23,437.
It was the Rays' first come-from-behind win of two runs or more since July 6 against Kansas City, the last win before losing seven in a row to enter the All-Star break. And while the home runs were crucial, so were Shields' 81/3 innings and complete dominance of the Oakland lineup after the early homers.
Without the performance, the Rays likely wouldn't have finished the homestand 4-2, and would have put their thin lead on Boston in the AL East standings in jeopardy entering a seven-game road trip at Kansas City and Toronto starting tonight.
"I think it was important to get deep in the game," Shields said. "You know, 12:40 p.m. game, it's kind of hard to get up for those games, and I knew our team was going to eventually score some runs."
It also turned out to be a game of milestones for Shields (9-6). He picked up his 27th career win, surpassing Albie Lopez and Esteban Yan for third place on the Rays' all-time list, still behind Scott Kazmir (43) and Victor Zambrano (35). He also moved into fourth on the club's innings-pitched list (4771/3), surpassing Tanyon Sturtze. And his seven strikeouts moved him within one of 400 for his career.
"It's all about the pitching, and Shieldsy doing what he did this afternoon permitted us to get that win," Manager Joe Maddon said.
The bulk of his run support came on back-to-back pitches in the fifth off A's starter Greg Smith, who began the game with three perfect innings and had allowed no one to reach second base. The rally began when leadoff hitter Carlos Pena, trying to check his swing, was hit on the right hand by an 88 mph fastball and was awarded first base, a call confirmed by umpires Andy Fletcher (home plate) and Alfonso Marquez (third base).
A lengthy argument between Fletcher and Oakland manager Bob Geren ensued, though no one was ejected. After Smith retired Willy Aybar and Shawn Riggans, Gomes launched another fastball 448 feet off the "C" catwalk in left-center field, seemingly taking aim at the large American flag hanging over the bleachers.
"When you're a platoon player, you can't live for tomorrow. You live for that day, that at-bat. And with four lefties straight, I was able to get on track as an everyday player," said Gomes, who went 3-for-8 with three walks, two RBIs, two steals and two runs in the homestand.
While the crowd was still stirring, Zobrist sliced the next pitch from Smith, another fastball, into the first row in right, giving the Rays a lead they didn't relinquish. But his seventh-inning single into center, plating Aybar, proved essential after Oakland scored one in the ninth, a run charged to Shields, as Troy Percival picked up his 20th save.
Zobrist's day was dampened by his demotion to Durham, which made room for shortstop Jason Bartlett, who is expected to come off the disabled list today. Maddon said Zobrist's performance was not allowed to influence the decision.
"You just can't run hot and cold. It's about doing the right thing. If he had made three errors tonight and struck out four times, it seems like an easy decision. Either way, he was going back," Maddon said. "So, that's just how the game works. Fortunately, he did what he did, and then goes back. That definitely helped us."
Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@
pop.tampatrib.com.
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