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Shields Gets Rays Back In It

By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - One night after being humbled by a very impressive Cole Hamels, the Rays introduced the Phillies to their No. 1 pitcher Thursday night in Game 2 of the World Series.
James Shields showed he's pretty good, too.

The 26-year-old right-hander labored more than Hamels did in Game 1. He also benefited from excellent defensive work and maybe a little baseball luck. But Shields worked out of his jams and made the big pitches in a 4-2 Tampa Bay victory.

"I thought they did a great working at-bats," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of the Phillies. "I didn't realize that was a part of the equation with the Phillies."

Shields pitched 52/3 scoreless innings - Dan Wheeler got the third out in the sixth with two on - to earn his second victory of the postseason. He became the fourth pitcher to win a World Series game after taking two losses - tough losses, in his case - in an LCS.

In holding the Phillies to seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts, Shields produced his best statistical game of the postseason.

"I thought my stuff was good tonight," Shields said. "My change-up was exceptional. They did a good job just battling and taking pitches and being patient. I'm known as a strike thrower, and most of the teams take too many pitches on me. They did a great job, and I had to battle through a lot of innings."

He benefited from the kind of defense that has gotten the Rays this far. No play was bigger than the one made by Rocco Baldelli in the top of the fifth inning.

With one out and runners at first and second after Carlos Ruiz walked and Jayson Werth singled, Chase Utley ripped a line drive into right field. Baldelli moved fluidly to the ball for the catch, and then fired a bullet to first baseman Carlos Pena to double off Werth, who had taken too big of a lead.

After an easy first inning, Shields had to fight off a Phillies team that put at least one runner in scoring position in each of his innings. He did it as Phillies batters went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, with the lone hit being an infield single by Shane Victorino in the fourth that didn't score a run.

"Our guys gave us a 2-0 lead from the get-go," Shields said. "We ended up scoring another run in the second. They gave me enough confidence to get the job done."

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