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Shields pitches Devil Rays past Marlins

Jun 10, 2007 - 3:54 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- James Shields is adapting well to the stopper role.

Shields pitched seven strong innings to remain undefeated on the season as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays rolled to a 7-2 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

Ty Wigginton had three hits and Carlos Pena and Raul Casanova hit home runs as the Devil Rays rebounded from a 14-8 loss to Florida on Friday night, a game in which they blew an 8-2 lead.

Shields (6-0) continued his magnificent pitching, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

"It's been unbelievable, to tell you the truth. I just hope it keeps going this way for me," Shields said. "I've been making my pitches, and when you do that and go deep into the game, it makes a difference."

The only mistake for the 25-year-old righthander, who has pitched at least seven innings in 11 of his 13 starts, was yielding a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera in the sixth inning.

"It was a cutter. I left it a little up and he (Cabrera) got all of it," Shields said. "It actually was a pretty decent pitch but he's the type of hitter who can make you pay."

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon has come to expect such outings from Shields.

"Another wonderful performance. He's been solid all year, and tonight was no different" Maddon said. "He got in a little tough spot there but worked through it. He had a real presence on the mound tonight."

The Rays broke through in the third inning against Marlins lefthander Dontrelle Willis (7-5) by putting together four infield hits and a single to left to build a 4-0 lead for the second straight night.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes each hit a slow roller to the left side just beyond the reach of Willis to plate the first two runs.

Wigginton, who also reached on an infield hit, scored the third run on shortstop Hanley Ramirez's throwing error to first base on Dukes' hit. Jorge Cantu then lined a single to left to plate Young.

"I don't know what it is, but when Shields is out there, the guys feel like they have a real shot to win," Maddon said. "If you look at some of the more successful clubs, they have a few guys like that."

Willis, who has not won a start at home since April 23 against Atlanta, settled down and scattered only two hits over the next four innings.

The 25-year-old Willis left after throwing a season-high 122 pitches. Of the eight hits he allowed, four were of the infield variety. He struck out five and walked four.

There's nothing you can do. It just wasn't my day," Willis said. "You've got to continue to go out there and work hard to keep the game close. I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez was also not dismayed by Willis' pitching performance.

He (Willis) pitched better than the line score is going to show in (the) paper. He really did," Gonzalez said. "But, that's just baseball. You can't defend those (infield hits)."

The Marlins ended Shields' mastery in the sixth inning when Ramirez was hit by a pitch and Cabrera sent a 3-1 offering just over the scoreboard in left to cut the deficit in half.

Florida threatened again in the seventh inning, when Miguel Olivo and Aaron Boone reached on consecutive singles with no outs. But Shields was up to the challenge, striking out pinch hitter Jason Wood and Alfredo Amezaga before getting Dan Uggla on a flyout to left to end the threat.

Pena and Casanova added solo blasts in the eighth to make it 6-2.

"Whenever you can contribute like that, it's very satisfying," Pena said. "This is a good ballclub. We're starting to put it together and things will work out for us as time goes on."