James Shields

If the Phillies were a station wagon - red, of course - they would be in the shop having a new clutch installed. They went 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the World Series. They went 0 for 13 in Game 1 and managed a 3-2 win behind Cole Hamels. That's 1 for 28 (.036) if you're scoring at home, or screaming, "For the love of Richie Ashburn, do something on the base paths," at your television set. The Phils had the lead runner on base in the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

It would have been so much easier for Brett Myers if the Rays had taken that first-inning lead on a home run. One bad pitch, the ball clears the wall, the runners round the bases, and it's over. Instead, the Rays used a small-ball version of drip torture to scratch out the runs that provided them a lead they would never relinquish. A walk. A single. An error. A ground ball to short. Another ground ball to short. For Myers, it must have been like being tied to a chair and made to watch Masterpiece Theatre.

JAMES SHIELDS is racking up complete games for the Tampa Bay Rays. Shields tossed a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla. and the Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, 5-1. "Whether they're stressful innings or not, I condition myself enough to go that deep into games," Shields said. Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run came on Michael Young's grounder with one out in the ninth. He became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season.

One win away from a berth in the World Series, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon isn't playing it safe. Maddon said during a news conference yesterday that he is switching his rotation for tonight's Game 5 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. With a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, Maddon has decided to start lefthander Scott Kazmir in place of righthander James Shields. If the series goes beyond tonight, Shields - the Game 1 starter - will pitch Game 6 Saturday at Tropicana Field.

James Shields scattered five hits over 6 1/3 innings and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered last night, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the visiting Boston Red Sox, 5-4, to open a 1 1/2-game lead in the American League East. The Rays (50-32), surprising owners of the best record in baseball, have won six of seven and shrugged off a six-game losing streak to the Red Sox. It was the first meeting between the teams since their June 5 benches-clearing brawl at Fenway Park that led to the suspensions of eight players, including Shields (6-5)

Bradley saga, continued In yesterday's Low & Outside, we mentioned how, on Wednesday night, Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley "stormed" up four flights of Kauffman Stadium stairs looking for Royals television announcer Ryan Lefebvre. Lefebvre had made less-than-favorable on-air comments about Bradley. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels intercepted Bradley and ushered him back to the clubhouse, where the league's leading hitter "collapsed sobbing. " Daniels said no action would be taken against Bradley, although he admitted "it's a situation you want to avoid.

Willy Aybar broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run double, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Los Angeles Angels, 4-2, last night for their ninth victory in 11 games. The AL East-leading Rays overcame a strong pitching performance by Angels starter Ervin Santana, who took a no-hit bid into the sixth and left with a 2-1 lead after allowing one run and four hits in seven innings. James Shields (11-7) allowed two runs and nine hits in eight innings, and Dan Wheeler pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in eight chances as Tampa Bay improved to 6-2 against the Angels, including 5-0 at home.

Exactly why the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tangle so much is hard to tell. Blame it on a high-and-tight pitch here, a hard slide there. Whatever, this much is true: The teams playing in the American League Championship Series sure get into a lot of scraps. "There's no hatred," injured Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling insisted yesterday in an e-mail to the Associated Press. "It's more a combination of talent/personalities and place than anything, I think. For years Tampa Bay was looked down on and the Sox were one of the powerhouse teams.

It was not his smoothest outing, but Tampa Bay Rays righthander James Shields lived up to his nickname of "Big Game" during last night's 4-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Shields kept the Phillies off the board, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings, but very little came easily for the 26-year-old righthander, who is the oldest pitcher in the Rays' starting rotation. Shields did not allow a run but surrendered seven hits. He struck out four and walked two while he continually wiggled out of jams.

Jon Lester made the most of his second chance. Two days after struggling in a game that was rained out, the Red Sox lefthander allowed two hits in eight innings and Boston beat Tampa Bay, 4-0, yesterday for a doubleheader sweep, handing the AL champion Rays their 11th consecutive loss. Lester gave up hits to three of the first four batters Friday night, but none of that counted when the game was called after he threw only 23 pitches. It was made up as the opener yesterday at Fenway Park, a 3-1 Boston win. In the opener, Dustin Pedroia's tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth sent Boston to a victory behind Clay Buchholz and two relievers.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Matt Moore was the ultimate wild card. Making only his second major-league start, Moore looked like an ace in pitching seven innings of two-hit ball Friday as the improbable Tampa Bay Rays opened the real playoffs with a 9-0 victory over the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. Kelly Shoppach homered twice and drove in five runs, and Johnny Damon also homered as Tampa Bay dominated the whole way behind their 22-year-old rookie pitcher. The Rays played for the first time since their dramatic rally on the final day of the regular season.

The Tampa Bay Rays moved into a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the wild-card lead, beating the visiting New York Yankees, 5-2, last night behind another strong performance by James Shields. Shields came within one out of his 12th complete game, yielding six hits. Kyle Farnsworth finished for his 24th save, closing it out moments before the Red Sox lost, 6-3, at Baltimore. The Rays and Red Sox have two games left each. "It's been a nice little run. All the stars have been aligned for us and here we are," Shields said.

JAMES SHIELDS is racking up complete games for the Tampa Bay Rays. Shields tossed a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla. and the Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, 5-1. "Whether they're stressful innings or not, I condition myself enough to go that deep into games," Shields said. Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run came on Michael Young's grounder with one out in the ninth. He became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season.

Bad news Rays It was supposed to be a matchup of strikeout artists when Tampa Bay, featuring James Shields , and Seattle, with Felix Hernandez , faced off on Thursday night. It didn't quite work out that way. The Mariners had four homers - two by rookie Carlos Peguero , who had struck out 22 times in his previous 59 at-bats - and put together a five-run second inning to tag Shields for a seven earned runs in an 8-2 loss. "That one I did not see coming," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

CLEVELAND - James Shields pitched seven strong innings to finally beat Cleveland, and the Rays improved baseball's best road record with a 7-4 win on Thursday over Justin Masterson and the Indians, who lost for just the second time in 16 home games. With 10 wins in their last 11 on the road, the Rays are 13-5 outside Florida's borders. And, after a dreadful 1-8 start, they have gone 21-7. "By now, it's been forgotten," Shields said of the club's horrendous April opening. "We're playing on all cylinders right now. " Shields (4-1)

BALTIMORE - James Shields pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning, Brandon Guyer homered in his first big league at-bat, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles, 6-2, on Friday night. Johnny Damon also connected for the Rays, who are 17-6 since a 1-8 start that included three straight losses to Baltimore to open the season. Shields (3-1) gave up one run, struck out five, and walked three while improving to 3-0 with a 1.12 ERA in his last five starts. The most glaring flaw in his performance was a homer by Derrek Lee in the sixth.

The Tampa Bay Rays are off to the best start in franchise history and showing no signs of slowing down. They see no reason they can't keep rolling. "Everything's obviously working well right now," manager Joe Maddon said last night after Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena homered to back righthander James Shields in a 10-3 victory over visiting Oakland. The Rays have won 13 of 15, improving the best record in baseball to 16-5. Although Maddon said it's unrealistic to expect his team to maintain a .762 winning percentage over the long haul, he thinks the team has the type of attitude and work ethic needed to get back to the playoffs.

Jon Lester made the most of his second chance. Two days after struggling in a game that was rained out, the Red Sox lefthander allowed two hits in eight innings and Boston beat Tampa Bay, 4-0, yesterday for a doubleheader sweep, handing the AL champion Rays their 11th consecutive loss. Lester gave up hits to three of the first four batters Friday night, but none of that counted when the game was called after he threw only 23 pitches. It was made up as the opener yesterday at Fenway Park, a 3-1 Boston win. In the opener, Dustin Pedroia's tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth sent Boston to a victory behind Clay Buchholz and two relievers.

If the Phillies were a station wagon - red, of course - they would be in the shop having a new clutch installed. They went 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the World Series. They went 0 for 13 in Game 1 and managed a 3-2 win behind Cole Hamels. That's 1 for 28 (.036) if you're scoring at home, or screaming, "For the love of Richie Ashburn, do something on the base paths," at your television set. The Phils had the lead runner on base in the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

It was not his smoothest outing, but Tampa Bay Rays righthander James Shields lived up to his nickname of "Big Game" during last night's 4-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Shields kept the Phillies off the board, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings, but very little came easily for the 26-year-old righthander, who is the oldest pitcher in the Rays' starting rotation. Shields did not allow a run but surrendered seven hits. He struck out four and walked two while he continually wiggled out of jams.