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Shields Effective In 6 Innings Of Work

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - It wasn't a vintage outing for Rays starter James Shields on Friday against the White Sox, for the simple fact that it lasted "only" six innings.

In seven of his first 11 starts, the Rays' Opening Day starter lasted at least seven. But the six he gave the Rays Friday in a 2-1 victory were plenty effective: one run on seven hits, six strikeouts and one walk.

He threw 99 pitches (64 strikes) and got out of jams in the second and third innings by inducing inning-ending, double-play grounders.

"Here's a guy that even on not his best day pitches us into the seventh with a 1-1 game, gives us a chance to win, which he did," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "That is really an indicator of a winning-type of a player, a pitcher that not on his best day against a team like the White Sox, with all the power that they have, to keep the game like he did, which permitted us to win."

Shields struck out Chicago DH Jim Thome looking to end the sixth. That's when Maddon told Shields his night's work was done.

"I definitely wanted to go back out," Shields said. "I felt the last two innings, three innings were my best of the night. I felt really great in that last inning. Yeah, I want to go out there, man. It's just what I do."

Maddon said he made the decision to lift Shields with an eye toward his next start Thursday against the Red Sox in Boston.

"That's part of when you're making that kind of decision, how did he get to 100 pitches?" Maddon said. "What did he look like? What's going to happen after that? If I let him go out for the seventh, then you're talking 110, 115. That really would not sit well with me for his next start."

BALDELLI UPDATE: Rays OF Rocco Baldelli is scheduled to play his second extended spring training game against a group of Yankees today at 10 a.m. at the Naimoli Complex. Baldelli is scheduled to make five plate appearances, but will not play in the field.

He played his first game Thursday. It's a tentative step toward a potential return this season as Baldelli continues to work through a mitochondrial disorder that causes extreme fatigue after physical exertion.

Also scheduled to play is Yankees C Jorge Posada, who is rehabilitating a sore shoulder.

NOTEWORTHY: Today's game against the White Sox at Tropicana Field is nearly sold out. The only remaining tickets are scattered single seats and obstructed view. Country singer Trace Adkins will perform after the game. ... Rays 1B Carlos Pena will appear at the Checkers in Clearwater (1972 Gulf to Bay Blvd.) today, 10:30 a.m.-noon. ... Rays OF Eric Hinske and RHP Edwin Jackson will appear at the Ross Norton Rec Complex in Clearwater (1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) today, 10:30 a.m.-noon. ... Rays CF B.J. Upton recorded two stolen bases Friday to increase his lead on LF Carl Crawford for the team lead. Upton has 17, Crawford 14. They have the most combined steals for teammates in the American League. ... Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura went 2-for-4, giving him 41 this month. It's the seventh time a Ray has reached 40 hits in a month. Iwamura is the sixth Rays player to do so. Crawford set the team record with 50 hits in August 2007.

Carter Gaddis

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