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Shields, Devil Rays look to stop powerful Yankees

Jul 22, 2007 - 1:09 PM Tampa Bay (38-59) at NY Yankees (50-46) 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - James Shields has served as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' ace all season. On Sunday, he will be expected to hold down an offense that exploded for 24 runs in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.

With the Devil Rays looking for a split of a four-game series against the New York Yankees, Shields take the mound.

New York abused Tampa Bay pitching on Saturday, pounding out 28 hits and drawing eight walks against eight different pitchers. In the nightcap alone, the Yankees had eight players get multiple hits.

Shields (8-5, 3.91 ERA) started out the year strong, going 6-0 with a 3.08 ERA in his first 13 starts, but has struggled ever since, posting a 2-5 mark with a 5.80 ERA in his last seven outings. One of those losses was to New York on July 12, when he yielded six runs and nine hits in six innings.

Despite his recent struggles, the 25-year-old righthander ranks fourth in the league in WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) at 1.06, due mainly to stellar control which has allowed just 21 walks in 142 2/3 frames this season.

The Yankees will counter with Andy Pettitte (5-6, 4.10). The veteran lefthander was strong in his last start, allowing just one run in seven innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, but did not earn a decision.

He opposed Shields in that start on July 12, earning the win while surrendering three runs in 5 2/3 frames. Pettitte owns a 12-1 career mark against the Devil Rays with a 3.27 ERA in 19 games - 18 starts.