Shields to start ALCS opener for Rays

Oct 8, 2008 - 9:23 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays will begin the American League Championship Series the same way they started the divisional round - with James Shields on the mound.

The Rays announced on Wednesday that Shields will start Game One against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Tropicana Field.

The 6-4 Shields, who will oppose fellow righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka in the series opener, recorded the victory in Game One of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox, giving up three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Lefthander Scott Kazmir will take the mound in Game Two, followed by righthanders Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine - the exact same rotation that worked for the Rays last week.

"I just like it that way; it's no different than the first round in a sense," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "(Shields) in the first game because he normally gets a little deeper in the game."

Shields had mixed results against the Red Sox during the regular season. He tossed a two-hit shutout against the defending World Series champs in April, but failed to get past the fourth inning in either of his next two outings against Boston.

In a June 5 loss in Boston, Shields played a part in a brawl between the AL East rivals when he plunked Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp with a pitch in the second inning. Crisp charged the mound, and a fight ensued.

Shields is 2-4 with a 5.23 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.