Shields throws 11th complete game for Rays
James Shields pitched a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game yesterday as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, 5-1.
Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run he allowed scored on Michael Young's grounder with one out in the ninth.
When he fanned Josh Hamilton in the first, Shields became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season.
"Whether they're stressful innings or not, I condition myself enough to go that deep into games," Shields said.
The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC Sabathia, who accomplished the feat for Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.
White Sox sweep. Zach Stewart took a perfect game into the eighth inning and finished with a one-hitter as the Chicago White Sox completed a doubleheader sweep with a 4-0 win in Minnesota. The Twins were 21 up and 21 down against Stewart until Danny Valencia's leadoff double in the eighth spoiled the righthander's bid to become the 21st rookie in major league history to throw a no-hitter. He struck out nine in the first complete game of his career.
The White Sox won the afternoon game, 2-1.
Tigers 4, Indians 2: Doug Fister struck out a career-high 13 and Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer as visiting Detroit extended its AL Central lead to 71/2 games. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth to move to 41-for-41 in save opportunities, extending his team record.
Phillies 9, Braves 0: Cliff Lee tossed a five-hitter for his sixth shutout of the season for host Philadelphia. Lee (16-7) has won his last seven starts and hasn't allowed a run in five of those games. The Phillies increased their lead to 81/2 games over Atlanta.
Brewers 4, Cardinals 1: Randy Wolf allowed one run in eight innings and Ryan Braun and Nyjer Morgan homered for visiting Milwaukee, which won its fourth straight to move 101/2 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central.
Giants 7, Padres 2: Pablo Sandoval homered twice, Madison Bumgarner struck out a career-high 13 in 81/3 innings and visiting San Francisco remained seven games behind NL West-leading Arizona with 21 to play.
Diamondbacks 10, Rockies 7: Geoff Blum homered and Wade Miley tossed seven strong innings for visiting Arizona, which has won 12 of 13.
-- AP
'It's difficult for us to find any skilled labor' A new poll blames Long Island's ever-rising cost of living, shortage of affordable homes and other factors for making it hard for employers to hire and retain employees. Newsday TV's Doug Geed reports.
'It's difficult for us to find any skilled labor' A new poll blames Long Island's ever-rising cost of living, shortage of affordable homes and other factors for making it hard for employers to hire and retain employees. Newsday TV's Doug Geed reports.
