“Big Game” James even better against the Jays

April 24, 2011

A: Toronto Blue Jays

Attendance: 14,456

W: James Shields (2-1) 2.35 ERA

L: Ricky Romero (1-3) 3.00 ERA

Summary:

I heard some announcers talking this week about how pitchers performed on the start after they had thrown a complete game. The short-term empirical evidence was that they did not perform well. No one told James Shields that. Last Tuesday, against the White Sox, he went the distance and only allowed one run. Today, he did himself one better, throwing a complete game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed only four hits and two walks (both to Jose Bautista) and struck out seven, while only throwing 95 pitches. Bautista walked in the ninth, bringing up the tying run, but was picked off first. A few pitches later, the contest was over. The game only took a little over two hours to play. Now  that’s efficiency.

Jays’ starter Ricky Romero wasn’t too bad himself and outside of the first inning, pitched nearly as well as Shields. Ben Zobrist hit another towering home run in the first. It was a two-run shot that provided the game’s only runs.

The Rays finally have an off  day, the first scheduled off day since April fourth. Their 11-11 record is mediocre, but considering how badly the Rays started (1-8), they have been playing well. Also, consider that they have beaten teams that are expected to contend (White Sox, Twins and Red Sox).

Player of the Game: James Shields

Catch all my thoughts on the Rays via Twitter @Jonathan_Bohall