Rays' Shields shuts down Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher James Shields, right, hugs catcher John Jaso after Shields threw a five-hitter in Tampa Bay's 4-0 win against the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game. (June 14, 2011) Credit: AP
James Shields pitched his AL-leading third shutout of the season, cooling Boston's red-hot offense and helping the host Tampa Bay Rays halt the first-place Red Sox's nine-game winning streak, 4-0, Tuesday night.
"This was a big game for us," Shields said. "We've been struggling at home, and to be able to open the series off like that feels really good."
In addition to cutting into their deficit in the AL East, the third-place Rays ruined a Tropicana Field homecoming for Carl Crawford, their ex-teammate who signed a seven-year, $142-million contract with Boston.
Crawford went 0-for-3 with one strikeout against Shields (6-4), who allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five in his AL-leading fourth complete game.
Tigers 4, Indians 0: Justin Verlander nearly pitched another no-hitter, taking his latest bid into the eighth inning to lead host Detroit into first place in the AL Central.
With two career no-hitters already, including one in Toronto last month, Verlander (8-3) kept slumping Cleveland hitless until Orlando Cabrera singled to center with one out in the eighth for his 2,001st career hit.
Verlander finished with 12 strikeouts in a two-hitter and Andy Dirks drove in two runs, giving the Tigers the division lead.
Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5: Adam Lind homered off Koji Uehara (1-1) leading off the 11th inning as host Toronto snapped its four-game losing streak.
Phillies 9, Marlins 1: Cole Hamels (9-2) pitched seven dominant innings and Domonic Brown hit two of host Philadelphia's season-high five home runs.
Nationals 8, Cardinals 6: Ryan Zimmerman hit a run-scoring double in his return from the disabled list to spark a six-run seventh-inning for host Washington.
Pirates 1, Astros 0: Jeff Karstens (4-4) pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning and Garrett Jones drove in the lone run with a single in the second inning for visiting Pittsburgh.
Astros fire Arnsberg
Houston fired pitching coach Brad Arnsberg and replaced him on an interim basis with Doug Brocail, a former Astros pitcher . . . The Orioles say pitching coach Mark Connor has resigned for personal reasons. Bullpen coach Rick Adair took over.
-- AP
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