James Shields’ 13 strikeouts help Tampa Bay Rays defeat Florida Marlins 4-0 - MLB Update
The Tampa Bay Rays’ starter, James Shields had an outstanding day with the ball, as the pitcher took out thirteen batters in the club’s much needed sweep against the league rivals Florida Marlins 4-0, at the Sun Life Stadium, on Sunday, May 22.
Getting Gaby Sanchez in the last inning, Shields reached his career best 13 strike-outs and also best against the rivals. Shields ended with just three hits and walked just a single batter over nine innings to earn his fifth win of the season.
"I think I put a little stress on Joe right there by walking that guy, but he let me go out there and I commend him for that," Shields said. "I wanted to finish it real bad."
Shields dominated right from the start as he did not allow any base runner to past the first base until the ninth inning when he gave a walk to Logan Morrison, who then went to second. The right-hander allowed just three singles one each in second, seventh
and eighth and took out nine batters in his last four innings to finish his third complete game of the season.
Shields performance that took the Rays out of their gloomy circle, pleased the club’s manager Joe Maddon.
Maddon told reporters, "That was really stretching it there, but he really wasn't tested or pushed in that game. It was an outstanding effort. He told me during spring training he wanted to finish games. He has worked real hard and he deserved that opportunity
today."
As shields held the opposition under constant pressure with ball, he also touched an RBI single off his rival Jay Buente in the second inning to take a one run advantage. Elliot Johnson followed Shields and scored a second RBI single to elevate the lead
2-0 in the top of the second inning.
In the third inning, the Rays grip get stronger over the game as Matt Joyce and Casey Kotchman each added an RBI single. With this victory, the Rays also shatter a three-game losing streak which the Marlins gave them after 2007.
Buente, who was making his first start of the season, went for four runs on five hits walked three and took out just one batter over three innings spell to bear his first loss of the season and career.
The game might be more devastating for the Marlins, but manager Edwin Rodriguez replaced Buente with Brain Sanches, who took full control of the game. Reliever Burke Badenhop and closer Clay Hensley both remained scoreless, however not enough to take the
game back into the Marlins side.
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