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AL: James Shields’ one-hitter pushes Rays past Angels
By The Associated Press
Sunday, May 11, 2008 | No comments posted.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With James Shields pitching the way he is, the Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to believe anything is possible.
Shields pitched a one-hitter and Evan Longoria’s two-run, ninth-inning homer gave the surging Rays a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
The victory was Tampa Bay’s 11th in 16 games and lifted the Rays, who have won four of their last five series, three games over .500 (19-16) this deep into a season for the first time in franchise history.
“Honestly, our guys really have a very good way about them right now. We’re expecting to win on a nightly basis,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We almost feel like if we can keep it close, we’ll be able to do something at the end. Those are good feelings. That’s how you get to play at the end of the year — when you’re able to keep games close and win them at the end somehow.”
The Rays are doing it with improved pitching and defense, as well as timely hitting.
Shields (4-2) rebounded from the second-shortest outing of his career for his second shutout in his past three starts.
The 26-year-old right-hander limited the Angels to Brandon Wood’s one-out single in the third and retired the last 17 batters he faced after hitting Erick Aybar with a pitch in the fourth.
Thanks to some nice plays behind him, including Carl Crawford’s diving catch in the gap to rob Mike Napoli of an extra-base hit in the third, Shields faced just 28 batters — one over the minimum and a Rays record for a complete game.
“Spectacular,” Maddon said. “Just totally in command.”
Angels starter Jon Garland allowed no runs and four hits in eight innings. He walked three and struck out two before being replaced by Justin Speier (0-2), who gave up a leadoff single to B.J. Upton in the ninth.
Carlos Pena, who had two of Tampa Bay’s hits off Garland, grounded to first base, moving Upton to second. Three pitches later, Longoria hit his fourth major league homer into the seats in left-center.
“I think it was just a sinker that he left up,” said Longoria, who thought the ball was going to be caught short of the wall.
“I was pumped,” the rookie added. “I was more pumped for Shields because I hate to see a guy pitch like that and get a loss.”
Shields, who tossed a two-hitter to beat Boston 3-0 at Tropicana Field on April 27, struck out eight and walked none. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in a 12-4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park last weekend, throwing 98 pitches in just 3 2-3 innings.
This time, he only needed 70 pitches to get through the first seven innings, limiting the Angels to their only two baserunners of the night.
“He was aggressive early on. He wasn’t messing around,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said.
“I think I was more efficient today,” Shields explained. “My first-pitch strikes were a little better. ... When I get ahead in the count early, I can get to my changeup a little quicker.”
Garland allowed three walks and three singles over the same stretch. But only one of the runners got as far as second base, and the Angels helped their starter with a pair of double plays.
The Rays wasted their best opportunity to score off Garland in the eighth, stranding pinch runner Nathan Haynes at third base after Gabe Gross led off the inning with a double to the gap in left.
Garland escaped the jam by getting Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford to ground out.
“Unfortunately we didn’t score any runs for Gar,” Speier said. “He pitched a heck of a game.”
Los Angeles, already playing without injured infielders Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis, lost shortstop Erick Aybar when he was hit by a pitch in the left pinkie finger leading off the fourth inning.
X-rays were negative, and the Angels said Aybar is day-to-day with a bone bruise.
Rangers 4, Athletics 0
ARLINGTON, Texas — Scott Feldman and three relievers combined for Texas’ third consecutive shutout and Brandon Boggs drove in three runs to end the A’s four-game winning streak.
Feldman (1-1) pitched six innings, stretching Texas’ scoreless streak to 28 consecutive innings. Jamey Wright threw a perfect seventh before Joaquin Benoit and C.J. Wilson finished it off for 31 in a row.
The last time a major league team had three consecutive shutouts was Florida in August 2005. Minnesota was the last American League team to accomplish that feat, in July 2004.
It was the third straight start for rookie left-hander Greg Smith (2-2) in which the Athletics failed to score any runs behind him.
Indians 6, Blue Jays 1
CLEVELAND — Casey Blake and Ben Francisco hit two-run doubles in a six-run seventh inning to help C.C. Sabathia and Cleveland defeat Roy Halladay and Toronto in a duel of Cy Young Award winners.
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells jammed his left wrist while making a diving catch and left in the sixth inning as Toronto lost for the 13th time in its last 14 games in Cleveland.
Sabathia (2-5) struck out nine over seven innings. The reigning AL Cy Young winner gave up six hits, walked two and won for the first time in five decisions at home this season.
Halladay (3-5), the 2003 Cy Young winner, lost for the fourth time in five starts and fell to 5-1 in his career against Cleveland.
Tigers 6, Yankees 5
DETROIT — Kenny Rogers pitched into the seventh inning and Ivan Rodriguez had three hits.
Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs and Rogers (3-3) held the Yankees, to two runs on nine hits before New York scored three runs off Todd Jones in the ninth, but still lost for the third time in four games.
Rogers picked Wilson Betemit off first base in the second inning, giving him the big league record with 92 career pickoffs. The stat has been kept since 1974.
Detroit won for the second time in eight games since sweeping the Yankees in a three-game series in New York. It was the Tigers’ first sweep of at least three games at Yankee Stadium since 1966.
Kei Igawa (0-1) allowed six runs on 11 hits in three-plus innings.
Indians 6, Blue Jays 1
CLEVELAND — Casey Blake and Ben Francisco hit two-run doubles in a six-run seventh inning to help C.C. Sabathia and Cleveland defeat Roy Halladay and Toronto in a duel of Cy Young Award winners.
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells jammed his left wrist while making a diving catch and left in the sixth inning as Toronto lost for the 13th time in its last 14 games in Cleveland.
Sabathia (2-5) struck out nine over seven innings. The reigning AL Cy Young winner gave up six hits, walked two and won for the first time in five decisions at home this season.
Halladay (3-5), the 2003 Cy Young winner, lost for the fourth time in five starts and fell to 5-1 in his career against Cleveland.
Orioles 7, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora homered and Steve Trachsel got his first victory since April 4, leading Baltimore to its 11th straight victory over the Royals.
Huff, who has hit safely in 18 of his past 20 games, hit a three-run homer with two out in the fifth to snap a 2-2 tie.
Mora hit a two-out homer in the third with Freddie Bynum aboard after a double.
Trachsel (2-4), who was winless in his last five starts, gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He lasted just three innings in each of his previous two starts, allowing 11 runs and 12 hits with seven walks in six innings.
Gil Meche (2-5) allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.
White Sox 4, Mariners 2
SEATTLE — Jose Contreras pitched seven sharp innings and Paul Konerko hit a two-run double to lead Chicago to the win.
Contreras (3-3) gave up one run and six hits for the White Sox, who won for just the third time in 10 games.
Bobby Jenks allowed a solo home run to rookie Wladimir Balentien in the ninth but still got his seventh save in nine chances.
Seattle slugger Richie Sexson went 0-for-4 hours after Major League Baseball suspended him six games for charging the mound Thursday and throwing his helmet at Texas’ Kason Gabbard. Sexson is appealing the suspension.
The Mariners, who entered the season as one of the favorites to reach the postseason, have lost nine of 10.
Twins 7, Red Sox 6
MINNEAPOLIS — Struggling Mike Lamb hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth against Jonathan Papelbon, who blew his second consecutive save opportunity.
Delmon Young led off the ninth with a single, and advanced on a sacrifice by Matt Tolbert. Adam Everett popped out, Young stole third without a throw, and Carlos Gomez walked and moved up on a steal.
Then Lamb, who entered the game after second baseman Brendan Harris left with a tight right hamstring, hit a 1-2 pitch from Papelbon (2-2) to win it.
Lamb, in his first season with the Twins, entered the game batting just .207. Jesse Crain (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth, negating a big hit by Mike Lowell in the fifth.
Shields pitched a one-hitter and Evan Longoria’s two-run, ninth-inning homer gave the surging Rays a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
The victory was Tampa Bay’s 11th in 16 games and lifted the Rays, who have won four of their last five series, three games over .500 (19-16) this deep into a season for the first time in franchise history.
“Honestly, our guys really have a very good way about them right now. We’re expecting to win on a nightly basis,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We almost feel like if we can keep it close, we’ll be able to do something at the end. Those are good feelings. That’s how you get to play at the end of the year — when you’re able to keep games close and win them at the end somehow.”
The Rays are doing it with improved pitching and defense, as well as timely hitting.
Shields (4-2) rebounded from the second-shortest outing of his career for his second shutout in his past three starts.
The 26-year-old right-hander limited the Angels to Brandon Wood’s one-out single in the third and retired the last 17 batters he faced after hitting Erick Aybar with a pitch in the fourth.
Thanks to some nice plays behind him, including Carl Crawford’s diving catch in the gap to rob Mike Napoli of an extra-base hit in the third, Shields faced just 28 batters — one over the minimum and a Rays record for a complete game.
“Spectacular,” Maddon said. “Just totally in command.”
Angels starter Jon Garland allowed no runs and four hits in eight innings. He walked three and struck out two before being replaced by Justin Speier (0-2), who gave up a leadoff single to B.J. Upton in the ninth.
Carlos Pena, who had two of Tampa Bay’s hits off Garland, grounded to first base, moving Upton to second. Three pitches later, Longoria hit his fourth major league homer into the seats in left-center.
“I think it was just a sinker that he left up,” said Longoria, who thought the ball was going to be caught short of the wall.
“I was pumped,” the rookie added. “I was more pumped for Shields because I hate to see a guy pitch like that and get a loss.”
Shields, who tossed a two-hitter to beat Boston 3-0 at Tropicana Field on April 27, struck out eight and walked none. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in a 12-4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park last weekend, throwing 98 pitches in just 3 2-3 innings.
This time, he only needed 70 pitches to get through the first seven innings, limiting the Angels to their only two baserunners of the night.
“He was aggressive early on. He wasn’t messing around,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said.
“I think I was more efficient today,” Shields explained. “My first-pitch strikes were a little better. ... When I get ahead in the count early, I can get to my changeup a little quicker.”
Garland allowed three walks and three singles over the same stretch. But only one of the runners got as far as second base, and the Angels helped their starter with a pair of double plays.
The Rays wasted their best opportunity to score off Garland in the eighth, stranding pinch runner Nathan Haynes at third base after Gabe Gross led off the inning with a double to the gap in left.
Garland escaped the jam by getting Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford to ground out.
“Unfortunately we didn’t score any runs for Gar,” Speier said. “He pitched a heck of a game.”
Los Angeles, already playing without injured infielders Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis, lost shortstop Erick Aybar when he was hit by a pitch in the left pinkie finger leading off the fourth inning.
X-rays were negative, and the Angels said Aybar is day-to-day with a bone bruise.
Rangers 4, Athletics 0
ARLINGTON, Texas — Scott Feldman and three relievers combined for Texas’ third consecutive shutout and Brandon Boggs drove in three runs to end the A’s four-game winning streak.
Feldman (1-1) pitched six innings, stretching Texas’ scoreless streak to 28 consecutive innings. Jamey Wright threw a perfect seventh before Joaquin Benoit and C.J. Wilson finished it off for 31 in a row.
The last time a major league team had three consecutive shutouts was Florida in August 2005. Minnesota was the last American League team to accomplish that feat, in July 2004.
It was the third straight start for rookie left-hander Greg Smith (2-2) in which the Athletics failed to score any runs behind him.
Indians 6, Blue Jays 1
CLEVELAND — Casey Blake and Ben Francisco hit two-run doubles in a six-run seventh inning to help C.C. Sabathia and Cleveland defeat Roy Halladay and Toronto in a duel of Cy Young Award winners.
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells jammed his left wrist while making a diving catch and left in the sixth inning as Toronto lost for the 13th time in its last 14 games in Cleveland.
Sabathia (2-5) struck out nine over seven innings. The reigning AL Cy Young winner gave up six hits, walked two and won for the first time in five decisions at home this season.
Halladay (3-5), the 2003 Cy Young winner, lost for the fourth time in five starts and fell to 5-1 in his career against Cleveland.
Tigers 6, Yankees 5
DETROIT — Kenny Rogers pitched into the seventh inning and Ivan Rodriguez had three hits.
Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs and Rogers (3-3) held the Yankees, to two runs on nine hits before New York scored three runs off Todd Jones in the ninth, but still lost for the third time in four games.
Rogers picked Wilson Betemit off first base in the second inning, giving him the big league record with 92 career pickoffs. The stat has been kept since 1974.
Detroit won for the second time in eight games since sweeping the Yankees in a three-game series in New York. It was the Tigers’ first sweep of at least three games at Yankee Stadium since 1966.
Kei Igawa (0-1) allowed six runs on 11 hits in three-plus innings.
Indians 6, Blue Jays 1
CLEVELAND — Casey Blake and Ben Francisco hit two-run doubles in a six-run seventh inning to help C.C. Sabathia and Cleveland defeat Roy Halladay and Toronto in a duel of Cy Young Award winners.
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells jammed his left wrist while making a diving catch and left in the sixth inning as Toronto lost for the 13th time in its last 14 games in Cleveland.
Sabathia (2-5) struck out nine over seven innings. The reigning AL Cy Young winner gave up six hits, walked two and won for the first time in five decisions at home this season.
Halladay (3-5), the 2003 Cy Young winner, lost for the fourth time in five starts and fell to 5-1 in his career against Cleveland.
Orioles 7, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora homered and Steve Trachsel got his first victory since April 4, leading Baltimore to its 11th straight victory over the Royals.
Huff, who has hit safely in 18 of his past 20 games, hit a three-run homer with two out in the fifth to snap a 2-2 tie.
Mora hit a two-out homer in the third with Freddie Bynum aboard after a double.
Trachsel (2-4), who was winless in his last five starts, gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He lasted just three innings in each of his previous two starts, allowing 11 runs and 12 hits with seven walks in six innings.
Gil Meche (2-5) allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.
White Sox 4, Mariners 2
SEATTLE — Jose Contreras pitched seven sharp innings and Paul Konerko hit a two-run double to lead Chicago to the win.
Contreras (3-3) gave up one run and six hits for the White Sox, who won for just the third time in 10 games.
Bobby Jenks allowed a solo home run to rookie Wladimir Balentien in the ninth but still got his seventh save in nine chances.
Seattle slugger Richie Sexson went 0-for-4 hours after Major League Baseball suspended him six games for charging the mound Thursday and throwing his helmet at Texas’ Kason Gabbard. Sexson is appealing the suspension.
The Mariners, who entered the season as one of the favorites to reach the postseason, have lost nine of 10.
Twins 7, Red Sox 6
MINNEAPOLIS — Struggling Mike Lamb hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth against Jonathan Papelbon, who blew his second consecutive save opportunity.
Delmon Young led off the ninth with a single, and advanced on a sacrifice by Matt Tolbert. Adam Everett popped out, Young stole third without a throw, and Carlos Gomez walked and moved up on a steal.
Then Lamb, who entered the game after second baseman Brendan Harris left with a tight right hamstring, hit a 1-2 pitch from Papelbon (2-2) to win it.
Lamb, in his first season with the Twins, entered the game batting just .207. Jesse Crain (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth, negating a big hit by Mike Lowell in the fifth.
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