TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Shields Steps Up Big In Start

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

James Shields throws the first pitch of against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of the World Series.

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - After getting beat by the Phillies' ace lefthander Cole Hamels in Game 1 of the World Series, the Rays sent their No. 1 pitcher to the mound Thursday night.

James Shields lived up to the label.

To be sure, the 26-year-old right-hander benefited from excellent defensive work and maybe a little baseball luck. He also labored. But he made the big pitches, and when he left the game with two out in the sixth inning, the Rays led 4-0.

Shields was in line to get his second victory of the postseason after winning the opening game of the Division Series against Chicago and taking two tough losses in the ALCS against Boston.

Only three major pitchers had won a game in the Fall Classic after losing twice in an LCS: Atlanta's Tom Glavine (twice), Cleveland's Chad Ogea and the New York Yankees' Mike Mussina.

In holding the Phillies to seven hits with two walks, Shields produced his best statistical game of the postseason. 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 pitching a 1-2-3 opening frame, Shields put a Philly runner in scoring position in every one of his innings. He also got out of each inning, holding the Phillies to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position after they went 0-for-13 in Game 1.

The lone Phillies hit with runners in scoring position against Shields was an infield single by Shane Victorino in the fourth that advanced the runner to third.

NL home run champ Ryan Howard, 0-for-4 in Game 1, opened the second inning with a double over B.J. Upton's head. Four batters later, with runners at second and third, Feliz hit a sharp liner into left center that Upton ran down for the third out.

Shields worked out of jams in the third, fourth and fifth innings and got into another one in the sixth. With the speedy Victorino at third, Dan Wheeler came on and got the third out.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT