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Shields Taking Same Approach

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

BOSTON - When James Shields stares down the Red Sox lineup tonight, neither side will need a scouting report.

The memory of the two-hit shutout Shields threw against Boston on Sunday at Tropicana Field should remain fresh in everyone's mind, and the right-hander doesn't plan to make any radical changes facing the Red Sox again.

"I felt I mixed up my pitches well enough the last game to where I can pretty much try to do the same thing," he said. "I'm going to take the same approach this game as I did last game, and I'm going to make the in-game adjustments after that."

Shields might as well stick with what worked and see if the Red Sox have a better answer this time.

Sunday, everything was breaking his way, as he retired 10 in a row at one point and later set down the last 11 men he faced in the game. He saw only 29 batters in the game, matching the Rays record for the fewest batters faced in a complete-game shutout.

It isn't like he does this all the time, either; Sunday marked his first victory over the Red Sox in five career starts against them.

Nonetheless, it was enough to put the initial burden on Boston's slumping bats to figure out a way to get to him.

"If I see them making an adjustment on what I'm doing, then I'm going to change my thought process up during the game," Shields said. "That's pretty much what you've got to do, really - if you try to change too much you're going to over-think, over-throw, you're going to start walking guys and leaving balls up."

Shields did emphasize that Fenway Park is a different environment and it will be an entirely different game, so he wanted to do what he could to "flush" the memories of his last outing.

ONE AND DONE: CF B.J. Upton didn't mince words when asked Friday afternoon how his shoulder was feeling.

"Great," he said, without hesitation.

Upton likely will be back in the lineup for tonight's game after missing his first start of the season Friday. Gabe Gross started in center in his place.

Upton left Thursday's game in the middle of an at-bat after straining his left shoulder on a swing. It's a freak thing that happens to Upton just about every season, with last year an exception.

"Hopefully this is the last time," Upton said.

The Rays recalled OF Justin Ruggiano to serve as insurance for Upton, but he will be optioned back before Sunday's game to clear a roster spot for Scott Kazmir. Ruggiano had gone 5-for-10 with three doubles in three games for Durham since being sent down last Friday.

NOTEWORTHY: Friday's game didn't start until 9:32 p.m. because of rain, a delay of two hours, 27 minutes. ... Montgomery LHP James Houser was ejected from Friday night's game against Huntsville after hitting former University of Florida star Matt LaPorta with his first pitch. LaPorta homered in the previous three games against the Biscuits.

Marc Lancaster

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