SB Nation Tampa Bay - Complete Game James Does It Again, Rays Beat Sox 4-0https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2011-06-14T22:20:44-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19874092011-06-14T22:20:44-04:002011-06-14T22:20:44-04:00James Shields Shuts Out The Red-Hot Boston Red Sox, Rays Win 4-0
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<p><span>James Shields</span> pitched his 3rd shutout and 4th complete game of the 2011 season tonight, silencing a streaking <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Red Sox</a> offense. Shields (6-4) best veteran knuckler <span>Tim Wakefield</span> (3-2), finishing all 9 innings with 110 pitches and 5 strikeouts. Shields danced in out of trouble all night, inducing a bases-loaded ground ball from <span>Carl Crawford</span> in the first and getting a dandy double play ball from <span>Kevin Youkilis</span> in the 3rd inning, getting out of runners-on-the-corners, one-out jam.</p>
<p>Tim Wakefield, on the other hand, completed the 7th inning on what could easily be regarded the angel wings of great fortune. Wakefield's knuckle ball did not fool the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rays</a> hitters, who took five walks off the Red Sox starter tonight. Despite the walks and the crushed foul balls (Wakefield surrendered about 5 foul home runs), Wakefield escaped with only 1 earned run against his tab and 2 runs in total.</p>
<p><span>Justin Ruggiano</span> continued his hot hitting tonight, powering a homer to left field 5th inning to give the Rays a 1-0 advantage. The Rays scored again in the 6th inning on passed ball, allowing <span>Evan Longoria</span> to dash across the plate. In the bottom of the 8th, the Rays sealed the victory, taking a 4-0 lead on a pair of RBI singles from <span>Casey Kotchman</span> and <span>John Jaso</span>.</p>
<p>Shields then finished the game with his 6th 1-2-3 inning of the night, defeating the heart of the Red Sox order on just 9 pitches.</p>
<p>Notes from the game:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, in addition to playing some elite defense at first, led the Red Sox offense, going 3 for 4. Only <span>Jacoby Ellsbury</span> and <span>J.D. Drew</span> could muster additional hits on the night, and no Red Sox hitter had the privilege of an extra base hit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span>Johnny Damon</span> went 1 for 4, scorching a double to right field and extending his team-record on-base streak to 38 games.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Justin Ruggiano and Casey Kotchman had the only multi-hit showings for the Rays, Ruggiano going 2 for 4 with his game-winning homer and Kotchman going 2 for 3 with a walk.</span></li>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/6/14/2224417/james-shields-shut-out-boston-red-sox-tampa-bay-rays-scoreBradley Woodrum2011-06-14T12:17:04-04:002011-06-14T12:17:04-04:00Tampa Bay Rays Vs. Boston Red Sox: Carl Crawford's Return
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<p>The MLB Schedule Overlords, in their robotic and constant pursuit of total <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> destruction, have anointed the Rays' return from their grueling road trip with a three game set against the AL's best <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a>. Yes, the Rays (35-31, 4.5 games back) take on the division-leading Red Sox (39-26) who have won 9 of their last 10 -- and nearly each victory came in blowout fashion. The Red Sox hitters are seeing the ball well right now, and Tampa faces an immense obstacle on their path to the playoffs.</p>
<p>Toeing the bump for the Rays today will be Mr. Big Game himself, <span>James Shields</span> (5-4, 2.85 ERA, 3.50 <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/pitching/fip/">FIP</a>), who has been enjoying a career year so far. Shields is 5 and 1/3 innings away from 100 innings pitched on the year, which would put him in the triple digit category with <span>Felix Hernandez</span>, <span>Justin Verlander</span>, <span>Jered Weaver</span>, and <span>CC Sabathia</span> -- not bad company, for sure.</p>
<p>Shields has always struggled a bit with homers, and 2011 has been no exception. For him to be successful tonight, he will need to keep the bases clear, so that when the inevitable home run or two comes, it will not produce a crooked number.</p>
<p><span>Tim Wakefield</span> (3-1, 4.84 ERA, 4.88 <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/pitching/fip/">FIP</a>) takes the mound for the Red Sox tonight. If the Rays have the pitching advantage in any one of these games, it would be tonight against the 44-year-old knuckle-baller. Wakefield started the season as the Red Sox long man, but moved into the starting rotation when <span>Daisuke Matsuzaka</span> went to the DL. For a long time, Wakefield had the Rays' number -- and that number was 19-3. From 1998 through 2007, Tim Wakefield went 19-3 with a 3.12 ERA. Since 2008 (and including this year), Wakefield has managed a 7.60 ERA and a 2-3 record.</p>
<p>Key to the Rays success against Wakefield has been their deployment of same-handed hitters, similar to their <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2010/6/11/1511468/explaining-the-danks-theory">Danks Theory</a> lineups of the past. Expect to see the likes of <span>Sean Rodriguez</span> and <span>Justin Ruggiano</span> tonight as they attempt to further exploit the knuckle-baller's weakness.</p>
<p>Another interesting tidbit for tonight: <span>Carl Crawford</span> makes his return to Tropicana Field. Steve Slowinski and Gary Shelton implore readers and Rays fans to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2011/6/14/2223267/rays-red-sox-carl-crawford-boo">restrain from booing Crawford</a> tonight, arguing he deserves at least one cheer from the Tampa Bay faithful. Whether or not the fans cheer or boo their greatest player in franchise, rest assured: It will be electric tonight.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/6/14/2336561/tampa-bay-rays-vs-boston-red-sox-carl-crawfords-returnBradley Woodrum