Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, on Thursday night.

“I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. “The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten, 2-1, on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.

Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.

“Cody was big,” Valentine said. “Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”

Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 52/3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.

Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

“I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”

Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.

Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.

Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.

Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.

The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

“We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”

Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.

“Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. “We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”

Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.

Around the bases

Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

ST. PETERSBURG — A night after their five-game winning streak was stopped, the Boston Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. Cody Ross had a bases-loaded walk, solo home run and two-run single, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Red Sox gain a split in the two-game series. Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start, allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Alfredo Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays’ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third strike call by Dan Bellino. Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that frame, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took the ball from Doubront, and lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. Ross’s two-run single off Wade Davis in the eighth broke the game open. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, the touted rookie who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nave for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd’s led off with a home run in the second and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. Ross, who had homers in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay in April, hit his seventh of the year. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored B.J. Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, manager Bobby Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

ST. PETERSBURG — Sacrifice flies are far from flashy, and they won’t make many SportsCenter highlight reels.

But they score runs, and they were the story in the Rays’ 6-2 win over the Twins on Sunday in front of 26,507 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay set a club record with four sacrifice flies, one shy of the single-game major-league record, in picking up its fourth win in its past five games.

“From the spectators’ perspective, it’s one of the most boring plays in all of baseball,” manager Joe Maddon said. “But from a dugout perspective, it’s very exciting. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see that.”

Maddon might have been exaggerating a bit; the Rays dugout wasn’t exactly exploding with enthusiasm. But centerfielder B.J. Upton pointed out that since spring training, the No. 1 thing on hitters’ lists was doing better at scoring a runner from third with less than two outs. It’s something the Rays have struggled with, so a “productive out,” as Ben Zobrist calls a sacrifice fly, was much appreciated, considering Tampa Bay had a 2-0 lead in the fourth before getting their first hit off left-hander Francisco Liriano.

“I got to thinking about has there ever been a no-hitter and a loss?” third baseman Evan Longoria said. “Either way, we’re going to have to do those kind of plays to win games. We’re not a team that really is going to be able to rely on a three-run home run to win a whole lot of games.”

That was more than enough support for right-hander Jeff Niemann, who picked up his first win of the season, allowing just two runs and three hits over 5? innings. It came one day after Niemann said he got “chills” watching former Rice University teammate Phil Humber throw a perfect game Saturday for the White Sox.

“For a minute there, I didn’t think it was going to be real,” Niemann said. “It was fun seeing him go out there and do that. He put some pressure on me to do something myself.”

Niemann did his best Humber impression early on, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth until Clete Thomas broke it up with a single with two outs.

“It was weird, just with what Humber did the day before, and us being in college for three years together, pitching behind each other, it just kind of was almost, ‘Here it goes again,’ ” Niemann said. “It was fun.”

Some strong bullpen work by Jake McGee, who struck out Justin Morneau with the bases loaded in the fifth, and Fernando Rodney, who has finished all but one of the Rays’ wins, made the lead stick.

The Rays (9-7) started with two sacrifice flies in the third inning, when they loaded the bases with no outs before getting RBI flyouts by Desmond Jennings and Zobrist. In the fourth, Longoria doubled off the B-ring catwalk, advanced to third on a Jeff Keppinger flyout and scored on an Upton sacrifice fly to left, his first of two in the game. The Mariners were the last team to have as many sacrifice flies, recording five April 15, 2008, against the Royals.

“A sacrifice fly goes down as an RBI and no plate appearance,” said Jennings, who also hit a two-run homer. “So it’s a plus on both sides.”

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Matt Joyce and Ben Zobrist homered Tuesday night, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays continue their improbable chase for the AL wild card with a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

The Rays, seeking their third playoff berth in four seasons, are tied with Boston after making up nine games in the standings since Sept. 4. The Red Sox beat Baltimore, 8-7, Tuesday, and if the teams are tied after their regular-season finales Wednesday they will meet in a one-game playoff Thursday at Tropicana Field.

Joyce’s three-run homer off former teammate Rafael Soriano (2-3) was the all-star’s first in more than three weeks and wiped out a 3-2 deficit in the seventh. Zobrist hit a two-run drive off Bartolo Colon in the second, and the Rays kept the score close by turning the third triple play in franchise history after falling behind in the sixth.

Jake McGee (4-2) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win. With a crowd of 22,820 standing and cheering, Kyle Farnsworth got the final three outs for his 25th save in 31 chances. The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay.

The Yankees, who clinched the division title and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs last week, rested Derek Jeter and plan to play most – if not all – of their regular lineup again on Wednesday. Manager Joe Girardi remained undecided on a starting pitcher for the finale, but it figures to be a reliever.

After blowing a nine-game lead in the span of 23 days, the Red Sox will send Jon Lester (15-9) to the mound against Baltimore on Wednesday night in an effort to get into the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Lester, Boston’s winningest pitcher, will be throwing on three days’ rest.

Boston will be looking to put together its first winning streak since sweeping a doubleheader from Oakland on Aug. 27.

New York general manager Brian Cashman reiterated how nice it is to be in a position to not have to go down to the wire.

“I’m not pulling for anybody. I know I’m glad that we were able to do what we did,” Cashman said. “I know that both parties involved, Boston and Tampa Bay, are having sleepless nights. They’re hungry. Rather than have to live through it, I think both want to fast forward it to see what happens. I’ve been there.”

 

Updated Sep 28, 2011 12:54 AM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)

Strong pitching, solid defense and just enough offense. Call it the Rays way.

Tampa Bay continued its improbable bid for the AL wild card with a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, taking the chase down to the last night of the regular season after getting home runs from Matt Joyce and Ben Zobrist and turning a triple play that helped them stay in the game.

Seeking their third playoff berth in four seasons, the Rays are tied with Boston after making up nine games in the standings since Sept. 4.

The Red Sox beat Baltimore 8-7, and if the teams remain tied after Wednesday’s season finales, they will meet in a one-game playoff Thursday at Tropicana Field.

”We don’t feel like we have anything to lose. We’ve had a great run,” Zobrist said. ”We’re hoping to cap it with a playoff berth.”

Joyce’s three-run homer off former teammate Rafael Soriano (2-3) was the All-Star’s first in more than three weeks and it wiped out a 3-2 deficit in the seventh. Zobrist hit a two-run drive off Bartolo Colon in the second, and the Rays kept the score close by turning the third triple play in franchise history after falling behind in the sixth.

”Everybody’s thirsty for offense, and we’d like to score more,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ”But we’re built around pitching and defense.”

Jake McGee (4-2) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win. With a crowd of 22,820 standing and cheering, Kyle Farnsworth got the final three outs for his 25th save in 31 chances. The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay, which trailed the Red Sox by nine games before battling back into the wild-card race.

”Catching Boston was a big thing, but we still haven’t accomplished what we set out to do from the beginning of spring training,” Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon said.

Russell Martin hit a solo homer for the Yankees in the third, but also grounded into the triple play that helped Jeremy Hellickson escape further damage after Nick Swisher’s RBI double gave New York a 3-2 lead in the sixth.

The Yankees, who clinched the division title and homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs last week, rested Derek Jeter and plan to play most – if not all – of their regular lineup again on Wednesday. Manager Joe Girardi remained undecided on a starting pitcher for the finale, but it figures to be a reliever.

New York general manager Brian Cashman reiterated how nice it is to be in a position to not have to go down to the wire.

”I’m not pulling for anybody. I know I’m glad that we were able to do what we did,” Cashman said. ”I know that both parties involved, Boston and Tampa Bay, are having sleepless nights. They’re hungry. Rather than have to live to through it, I think both want to fast forward it to see what happens. I’ve been there.”

Zobrist has homered five times in his last 10 games after going 39 games without hitting one. Martin’s solo homer trimmed the early lead to 2-1, and the Yankees tied it in the fourth when Brett Gardner, who had singled, scored from third as Curtis Granderson grounded into a double play.

New York wasted a couple of opportunities to take charge against Hellickson, who allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Mark Teixeira flied to right field with the bases loaded to end the third, and the Yankees also failed to score with the bases filled in the sixth, when Martin grounded into the 5-4-3 triple play.

After Swisher’s RBI double, Jorge Posada drew an intentional walk to load the bases against Hellickson with no outs. The rookie escaped the jam when Martin hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Evan Longoria, who stepped on the bag and threw to second baseman Zobrist for the second out. Zobrist’s relay to first arrived ahead of Martin, who dived head first into the base.

”What I was hoping for was maybe a double play and giving up one run,” Maddon said. ”But my God, how do you even envision a triple play. We were very fortunate with that. The ball was hit in a perfect spot.”

Girardi agreed.

”You can’t hit it in a more perfect spot,” he said. ”That was a big break for them.”

Colon allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. Girardi used four relievers – Soriano, Cory Wade, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera – in their final tuneup for the playoffs.

”We’re professionals. We try to win every game,” Martin said. ”We want to play these guys tough. They just had our number today.”

Notes: The Rays played without 1B Casey Kotchman, who was scratched from the lineup after experiencing chest tightness and being taken to a hospital for precautionary tests. The team said all of the tests were negative. … Damon singled in the second inning, moving past Lou Gehrig into sole possession of 57th place on the career hits list with 2,722. … Tampa Bay and Boston both are trying to become the first team to start a season 0-6 and make the playoffs. … Cashman flew to Florida to take part in a postseason organizational meeting with Girardi and his coaching staff. More talks will take place Wednesday. … Girardi said it’s possible the Yankees will use three starters and have 10 or 11 pitchers overall for the opening playoff round. LHP CC Sabathia and RHP Ivan Nova will start Games 1 and 2. The Yankees have not announced their Game 3 starter. … Cashman confirmed that the New York Mets denied the Yankees request to have their Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team play one season in Newark. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s stadium is undergoing major renovations.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 5, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields is racking up complete games for the Tampa Bay Rays, and it’s no accident.

The All-Star right-hander knows when to use his best pitch.

Shields tossed a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game and the Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 5-1 on Monday.

“He’s got a good changeup, period,” Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton said. “So, when you’ve got a good changeup, 90 [mph] looks more like 96. He looks so good to hit, and it drops off the table. He throws it and keeps it out of the strike zone. Makes it look like it’s going to be in the strike zone.”

Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run he allowed came home on Michael Young’s grounder with one out in the ninth.

“Whether they’re stressful innings or not, I condition myself enough to go that deep into games,” Shields said.

Shields also became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season when he fanned Hamilton in the first.

The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC Sabathia, who accomplished the feat when he pitched for Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.

“This year, the guy’s been able to finish whatever he starts,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “We haven’t been able to figure him out.”

Shields went eight shutout innings in Tampa Bay’s 4-1 win at Texas last Wednesday. The right-hander is the first AL pitcher since Scott Erickson in 1998 to record at least 11 complete games.

“He’s growing into this moment and he’s pretty much in his sweet spot as a starting pitcher goes,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “I think it’s important to him to build his confidence and let him become one of the premier starting pitchers in baseball. I don’t want to get in the way of that either.

“It’s a fine line you walk, and with a guy like him, his workout ability and his ability to take care of himself permits you to let that occur.”

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who are 24-13 since July 28. The victory was the 500th overall for Maddon.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. The Rangers were coming off a big series at Boston during which they won two of three.

Longoria hit a solo drive in the first for his 25th homer. He has 61 RBI over his last 67 games.

Casey Kotchman drove in two with a single and another run scored on John Jaso’s double-play grounder as Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the fourth. The Rays loaded the bases with one out on three walks from Feldman.

Upton added a solo shot in the seventh.

Feldman made his second spot start this season in place of Alexi Ogando, who the Rangers thought needed a break. The right-hander threw six innings in his other start, a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay last Tuesday.

Ogando entered in the eighth and gave up a double during a scoreless inning.

Washington said it has not been determined if Ogando, who is 12-7 this season, will pitch again out of the bullpen before making his next start.

Texas had a runner on second with two out in the first, second and fifth, but failed to score. Shields induced a double-play grounder from Young after Hamilton drew a walk to start the fourth.

Notes

• The Rays have won 17 games in a row when scoring five or more runs.
• Tampa Bay DH Johnny Damon (sore leg) rested.
• Texas 3B Adrian Beltre, who returned from a strained left hamstring last Thursday, is scheduled to DH twice in the three-game series on artificial turf.
• Rays 2B Ben Zobrist was back in the lineup after missing two games because of neck stiffness.
• Rangers manager Ron Washington said the left index finger of LHP C.J. Wilson (14-6), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, is fine. Wilson had an infield single in his start last Thursday go off the finger.
• Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach will come off the bench as the team takes a close look at other catchers, including Jose Labaton.
• Rays RHP Jeff Niemann (9-6) will pitch against Wilson on Tuesday.

Casey Kotchman drove in two with a single and another run scored on John Jaso’s double-play grounder as Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the fourth. The Rays loaded the bases with one out on three walks from Feldman.

“Just, kind of, tried to be a little bit too fine, going for the strikeout and maybe just should have of kept my original game plan of letting them get themselves out,” Feldman said. “I had an opportunity to pitch a good game and it’s disappointing.”

Feldman (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. The Rangers were coming off a big series at Boston during which they won two of three.

“Those walks right there (in the fourth), they delivered,” Texas manager Ron Washington said of the Rays. “Kotchman had the base hit up the middle and they scratch another run.”

Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run he allowed came home on Michael Young’s grounder with one out in the ninth.

“He’s got a good changeup, period,” Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton said. “So, when you’ve got a good changeup, 90 (mph) looks more like 96. He looks so good to hit, and it drops off the table. He throws it and keeps it out of the strike zone. Makes it look like it’s going to be in the strike zone.”

Feldman made his second spot start this season in place of Alexi Ogando, who the Rangers thought needed a break. The right-hander threw six innings in his other start, a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay last Tuesday.

Ogando entered in the eighth and allowed a double during a scoreless inning.

Washington said it has not been determined if Ogando, who is 12-7 this season, will pitch out of the bullpen again before his next start.

“We’ve just got to wait and see how things go,” Washington said. “But we needed to get him an inning.”

Shields also became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season when he fanned Hamilton in the first.

The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC Sabathia, who accomplished the feat when he pitched for Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who are 24-13 since July 28. The victory was the 500th overall for Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.

Longoria hit a solo drive in the first for his 25th homer. Upton added a solo shot in the seventh.

Texas had a runner on second with two out in the first, second and fifth, but failed to score. Shields induced a double-play grounder from Young after Hamilton drew a walk to start the fourth.

NOTES: Texas 3B Adrian Beltre, who returned from a strained left hamstring last Thursday, is scheduled to DH twice in the three-game series on artificial turf. He singled in the second and has an 11-game hitting streak. … Washington said the left index finger of LHP C.J. Wilson (14-6), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, is fine. Wilson had an infield single in his start last Thursday go off the finger. … Texas RF David Murphy was hitless in three at-bats and had his 10-game hitting streak end. … Rays RHP Jeff Niemann (9-6) will pitch against Wilson on Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 5 (UPI) — James Shields pitched a complete-game four-hitter and Casey Kotchman drove in two runs Monday, boosting the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 win over Texas.

Shields (14-10) yielded a run in the ninth inning, spoiling his shutout bid, but otherwise handcuffed the Rangers.

The right-hander gave up two walks and fanned seven batters, giving him 1,001 career strikeouts and 199 for the season, fourth-most in the American League.

Evan Longoria socked a solo homer in the first inning to put Tampa Bay ahead for good and Kotchman delivered a two-run single in the fourth to make 3-0.

B.J. Upton also went deep for the Rays.

Scott Feldman (1-1) was tagged for the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits over five innings for the American League West-leading Rangers.

Michael Young got the only RBI for Texas.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—James Shields(notes) pitched a four-hitter for his
major league-best 11th complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL
West-leading Texas Rangers 5-1 on Monday.

Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run he allowed
scored on Michael Young’s(notes) grounder with one out in the ninth.

Shields also became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson(notes) in 1993 to have
at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season when he fanned
Josh Hamilton(notes) in the first.

The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC
Sabathia(notes), who accomplished the feat when the left-hander pitched for Cleveland
and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.

Evan Longoria(notes) and B.J. Upton(notes) homered for the Rays, who are 24-13 since July
28. The victory was the 500th overall for Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.

Texas starter Scott Feldman(notes) (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in five
innings. The Rangers were coming off a big series at Boston during which they
won two of three.

Longoria hit a solo drive in the first for his 25th homer. He has 61 RBIs
over his last 67 games.

Casey Kotchman(notes) drove in two with a single and another run scored on John
Jaso’s(notes) double-play grounder as Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the fourth. The Rays
loaded the bases with one out on three walks from Feldman.

Upton added a solo shot in the seventh.

Feldman made his second spot start this season in place of Alexi Ogando(notes), who
the Rangers thought needed a break. The right-hander threw six innings in his
other start, a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay last Tuesday.

Ogando entered in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning.

Texas had a runner on second with two out in the first, second and fifth,
but failed to score. Shields induced a double-play grounder from Young after
Hamilton drew a walk to start the fourth.

NOTES: Tampa Bay DH Johnny Damon(notes) (sore leg) rested. … Texas 3B Adrian
Beltre(notes), who returned from a strained left hamstring last Thursday, is scheduled
to DH twice in the three-game series on artificial turf. … Rays 2B Ben Zobrist(notes)
was back in the lineup after missing two games because of neck stiffness. …
Rangers manager Ron Washington said the left index finger of LHP C.J. Wilson(notes)
(14-6), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, is fine. Wilson had an infield single in
his start last Thursday go off the finger. … Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach(notes) will
come off the bench as the team takes a close look at other catchers, including
Jose Labaton. … Rays RHP Jeff Niemann(notes) (9-6) will pitch against Wilson on
Tuesday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields pitched a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 5-1 on Monday.

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.

Shields also became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season when he fanned Josh Hamilton in the first.

The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC Sabathia, who accomplished the feat when the left-hander pitched for Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who are 24-13 since July 28. The victory was the 500th overall for Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. The Rangers were coming off a big series at Boston during which they won two of three.

Longoria hit a solo drive in the first for his 25th homer. He has 61 RBIs over his last 67 games.

Casey Kotchman drove in two with a single and another run scored on John Jaso’s double-play grounder as Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the fourth. The Rays loaded the bases with one out on three walks from Feldman.

Upton added a solo shot in the seventh.

Feldman made his second spot start this season in place of Alexi Ogando, who the Rangers thought needed a break. The right-hander threw six innings in his other start, a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay last Tuesday.

Ogando entered in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning.

Texas had a runner on second with two out in the first, second and fifth, but failed to score. Shields induced a double-play grounder from Young after Hamilton drew a walk to start the fourth.

NOTES: Tampa Bay DH Johnny Damon (sore leg) rested. … Texas 3B Adrian Beltre, who returned from a strained left hamstring last Thursday, is scheduled to DH twice in the three-game series on artificial turf. … Rays 2B Ben Zobrist was back in the lineup after missing two games because of neck stiffness. … Rangers manager Ron Washington said the left index finger of LHP C.J. Wilson (14-6), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, is fine. Wilson had an infield single in his start last Thursday go off the finger. … Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach will come off the bench as the team takes a close look at other catchers, including Jose Labaton. … Rays RHP Jeff Niemann (9-6) will pitch against Wilson on Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TORONTO (AP)—David Price(notes) blew away the Blue Jays.

Price struck out a franchise-record 14 in seven dominant innings, Desmond
Jennings(notes) hit a pair of solo home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Toronto 12-0
on Sunday.

“Hitting is hard enough already,” Rays catcher John Jaso(notes) said. “What
David brought today made it pretty much impossible.”

It wasn’t just Price’s stuff, but a stiff wind blowing out to center field
that made him so effective, giving his fastball extraordinary movement.

“I’ve never had that much movement before so it was pretty cool,” Price
said. “The wind kept blowing and it was making my eyes watery all game. I knew
it was blowing pretty good and I just kept throwing it.”

Jaso and Price felt strong gusts pushing them as they walked in from the
bullpen beforehand, but didn’t know how helpful the wind would be until the game
began, and Price’s two-seamer started drifting.

“It looks like a strike right out of his hand and then it’s just fading off
the plate,” Jaso explained. “It was moving about three feet. Once they start
to swing on his fastball, they can’t hold it back.”

Price (12-11) broke the team mark for strikeouts shared by Scott Kazmir(notes) and
James Shields(notes).

“He had everything working today, the changeup, the slider, the backdoor
cutter,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Everything was working off the fastball.
That’s why their hitters could not get comfortable at all.”

Price allowed only three singles and walked two. His first seven outs all
came by a strikeout, with two hits mixed in during that span.

“He’s got great movement,” Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu said. “You
can get down in the count right away.”

After leaving the game, Price wrote a birthday greeting for his mother on
his hand and flashed it for TV cameras. He’d sent her flowers and a card on
Friday, but figured she’d like the win even more.

Rays pitchers set a team mark by fanning 18 batters overall. Reliever
Brandon Gomes(notes) struck out two in 1 1-3 innings and Cesar Ramos(notes) struck out two to
end it.

“It’s fun to catch when you’ve got something like that going,” Jaso said.

Jennings homered on the first pitch of the game and got a career-high four
hits. He drove in three runs, scored three, drew a walk and stole a base from
the leadoff spot.

Sean Rodriguez(notes) added a two-run homer and Matt Joyce(notes) doubled twice during a
six-run ninth as the Rays improved to an AL-best 20-9 since July 28.

The Blue Jays lost their fourth straight. They finished with five hits.

Price quickly matched his career high, striking out 12 through five innings.
The left-hander didn’t fan anyone in the sixth, but finished his outing with two
more strikeouts in the seventh, matching and then passing Kazmir (2007) and
Shields (2011) for the Rays’ record.

Price improved to 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto.

Price didn’t give his defense much to do in the first three innings. He did
allow a pair of baserunners over that span: Mike McCoy(notes) led off the first with a
walk and Jose Molina(notes) hit a two-out single in the second. Neither runner
advanced.

McCoy was the first batter to make an out on a batted ball when he grounded
to second in the third. McCoy, who walked again in the sixth, was the only Blue
Jays batter not to strike out against Price.

Toronto’s 18 strikeouts were a season-high, two more they had in a 3-1 road
loss to the Los Angeles Angels on April 10. The franchise record is 19, set
twice previously, both times in extra-inning games.

Jennings put Tampa Bay ahead right away, connecting against Brandon Morrow(notes)
(9-9) for the first leadoff home run of his career.

“It’s an early run and gets the team up and the pitcher, especially David,
he doesn’t need many runs,” Jennings said.

After John Jaso’s RBI double in the second scored B.J. Upton(notes), Rodriguez hit
a two-run shot into the second deck in left. Jennings made it back-to-back
homers when he followed with another drive to left, his first multihomer game.

Morrow (9-9) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. The
right-hander has given up five homers in his past 10 innings. He lost for the
fourth time in five starts.

NOTES: Toronto LHP Wil Ledezma(notes) was designated for assignment after allowing
six runs in the ninth. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell (pneumonia) missed his
third straight game, with Wakamatsu continuing to run the team. … Rays RHP
Kyle Farnsworth(notes) (elbow) was available after missing the previous four games. …
Toronto 1B Adam Lind(notes), mired in a 3-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting
lineup. … Blue Jays RHP Jon Rauch(notes) (appendectomy) threw a bullpen session
before the game, his second in three days. … Toronto OF Rajai Davis(notes) (torn left
hamstring) has begun jogging and taking batting practice at the team’s minor
league complex in Florida and could return before the end of the season. …
Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis(notes) (8-7) faces Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero(notes) (12-9) in
Monday’s series finale.

“Hitting is hard enough already,” Rays catcher John Jaso said. “What David brought today made it pretty much impossible.”

It wasn’t just Price’s stuff, but a stiff wind blowing out to center field that made him so effective, giving his fastball extraordinary movement.

“I’ve never had that much movement before so it was pretty cool,” Price said. “The wind kept blowing and it was making my eyes watery all game. I knew it was blowing pretty good and I just kept throwing it.”

Jaso and Price felt strong gusts pushing them as they walked in from the bullpen beforehand, but didn’t know how helpful the wind would be until the game began, and Price’s two-seamer started drifting.

“It looks like a strike right out of his hand and then it’s just fading off the plate,” Jaso explained. “It was moving about three feet. Once they start to swing on his fastball, they can’t hold it back.”

Price (12-11) broke the team mark for strikeouts shared by Scott Kazmir and James Shields.

“He had everything working today, the changeup, the slider, the backdoor cutter,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Everything was working off the fastball. That’s why their hitters could not get comfortable at all.”

Price allowed only three singles and walked two. His first seven outs all came by a strikeout, with two hits mixed in during that span.

“He’s got great movement,” Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu said. “You can get down in the count right away.”

After leaving the game, Price wrote a birthday greeting for his mother on his hand and flashed it for TV cameras. He’d sent her flowers and a card on Friday, but figured she’d like the win even more.

Rays pitchers set a team mark by fanning 18 batters overall. Reliever Brandon Gomes struck out two in 1 1-3 innings and Cesar Ramos struck out two to end it.

“It’s fun to catch when you’ve got something like that going,” Jaso said.

Jennings homered on the first pitch of the game and got a career-high four hits. He drove in three runs, scored three, drew a walk and stole a base from the leadoff spot.

Sean Rodriguez added a two-run homer and Matt Joyce doubled twice during a six-run ninth as the Rays improved to an AL-best 20-9 since July 28.

The Blue Jays lost their fourth straight. They finished with five hits.

Price quickly matched his career high, striking out 12 through five innings. The left-hander didn’t fan anyone in the sixth, but finished his outing with two more strikeouts in the seventh, matching and then passing Kazmir (2007) and Shields (2011) for the Rays’ record.

Price improved to 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto.

Price didn’t give his defense much to do in the first three innings. He did allow a pair of baserunners over that span: Mike McCoy led off the first with a walk and Jose Molina hit a two-out single in the second. Neither runner advanced.

McCoy was the first batter to make an out on a batted ball when he grounded to second in the third. McCoy, who walked again in the sixth, was the only Blue Jays batter not to strike out against Price.

Toronto’s 18 strikeouts were a season-high, two more they had in a 3-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels on April 10. The franchise record is 19, set twice previously, both times in extra-inning games.

Jennings put Tampa Bay ahead right away, connecting against Brandon Morrow (9-9) for the first leadoff home run of his career.

“It’s an early run and gets the team up and the pitcher, especially David, he doesn’t need many runs,” Jennings said.

After John Jaso’s RBI double in the second scored B.J. Upton, Rodriguez hit a two-run shot into the second deck in left. Jennings made it back-to-back homers when he followed with another drive to left, his first multihomer game.

Morrow (9-9) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander has given up five homers in his past 10 innings. He lost for the fourth time in five starts.

NOTES: Toronto LHP Wil Ledezma was designated for assignment after allowing six runs in the ninth. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell (pneumonia) missed his third straight game, with Wakamatsu continuing to run the team. … Rays RHP Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) was available after missing the previous four games. … Toronto 1B Adam Lind, mired in a 3-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting lineup. … Blue Jays RHP Jon Rauch (appendectomy) threw a bullpen session before the game, his second in three days. … Toronto OF Rajai Davis (torn left hamstring) has begun jogging and taking batting practice at the team’s minor league complex in Florida and could return before the end of the season. … Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-7) faces Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero (12-9) in Monday’s series finale.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated Aug 28, 2011 6:29 PM ET

TORONTO (AP)

David Price blew away the Blue Jays.

Price struck out a franchise-record 14 in seven dominant innings, Desmond Jennings hit a pair of solo home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Toronto 12-0 on Sunday.

”Hitting is hard enough already,” Rays catcher John Jaso said. ”What David brought today made it pretty much impossible.”

It wasn’t just Price’s stuff, but a stiff wind blowing out to center field that made him so effective, giving his fastball extraordinary movement.

”I’ve never had that much movement before so it was pretty cool,” Price said. ”The wind kept blowing and it was making my eyes watery all game. I knew it was blowing pretty good and I just kept throwing it.”

Jaso and Price felt strong gusts pushing them as they walked in from the bullpen beforehand, but didn’t know how helpful the wind would be until the game began, and Price’s two-seamer started drifting.

”It looks like a strike right out of his hand and then it’s just fading off the plate,” Jaso explained. ”It was moving about three feet. Once they start to swing on his fastball, they can’t hold it back.”

Price (12-11) broke the team mark for strikeouts shared by Scott Kazmir and James Shields.

”He had everything working today, the changeup, the slider, the backdoor cutter,” manager Joe Maddon said. ”Everything was working off the fastball. That’s why their hitters could not get comfortable at all.”

Price allowed only three singles and walked two. His first seven outs all came by a strikeout, with two hits mixed in during that span.

”He’s got great movement,” Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu said. ”You can get down in the count right away.”

After leaving the game, Price wrote a birthday greeting for his mother on his hand and flashed it for TV cameras. He’d sent her flowers and a card on Friday, but figured she’d like the win even more.

Rays pitchers set a team mark by fanning 18 batters overall. Reliever Brandon Gomes struck out two in 1 1-3 innings and Cesar Ramos struck out two to end it.

”It’s fun to catch when you’ve got something like that going,” Jaso said.

Jennings homered on the first pitch of the game and got a career-high four hits. He drove in three runs, scored three, drew a walk and stole a base from the leadoff spot.

Sean Rodriguez added a two-run homer and Matt Joyce doubled twice during a six-run ninth as the Rays improved to an AL-best 20-9 since July 28.

The Blue Jays lost their fourth straight. They finished with five hits.

Price quickly matched his career high, striking out 12 through five innings. The left-hander didn’t fan anyone in the sixth, but finished his outing with two more strikeouts in the seventh, matching and then passing Kazmir (2007) and Shields (2011) for the Rays’ record.

Price improved to 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto.

Price didn’t give his defense much to do in the first three innings. He did allow a pair of baserunners over that span: Mike McCoy led off the first with a walk and Jose Molina hit a two-out single in the second. Neither runner advanced.

McCoy was the first batter to make an out on a batted ball when he grounded to second in the third. McCoy, who walked again in the sixth, was the only Blue Jays batter not to strike out against Price.

Toronto’s 18 strikeouts were a season-high, two more they had in a 3-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels on April 10. The franchise record is 19, set twice previously, both times in extra-inning games.

Jennings put Tampa Bay ahead right away, connecting against Brandon Morrow (9-9) for the first leadoff home run of his career.

”It’s an early run and gets the team up and the pitcher, especially David, he doesn’t need many runs,” Jennings said.

After John Jaso’s RBI double in the second scored B.J. Upton, Rodriguez hit a two-run shot into the second deck in left. Jennings made it back-to-back homers when he followed with another drive to left, his first multihomer game.

Morrow (9-9) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander has given up five homers in his past 10 innings. He lost for the fourth time in five starts.

NOTES: Toronto LHP Wil Ledezma was designated for assignment after allowing six runs in the ninth. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell (pneumonia) missed his third straight game, with Wakamatsu continuing to run the team. … Rays RHP Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) was available after missing the previous four games. … Toronto 1B Adam Lind, mired in a 3-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting lineup. … Blue Jays RHP Jon Rauch (appendectomy) threw a bullpen session before the game, his second in three days. … Toronto OF Rajai Davis (torn left hamstring) has begun jogging and taking batting practice at the team’s minor league complex in Florida and could return before the end of the season. … Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-7) faces Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero (12-9) in Monday’s series finale.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 28, 2011

TORONTO — David Price blew away the Blue Jays.

Price struck out a franchise-record 14 in seven dominant innings, Desmond Jennings hit a pair of solo home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Toronto 12-0 on Sunday.

“Hitting is hard enough already,” Rays catcher John Jaso said. “What David brought today made it pretty much impossible.”

It wasn’t just Price’s stuff, but a stiff wind blowing out to center field that made him so effective, giving his fastball extraordinary movement.

“I’ve never had that much movement before so it was pretty cool,” Price said. “The wind kept blowing and it was making my eyes watery all game. I knew it was blowing pretty good and I just kept throwing it.”

Jaso and Price felt strong gusts pushing them as they walked in from the bullpen beforehand, but didn’t know how helpful the wind would be until the game began, and Price’s two-seamer started drifting.

“It looks like a strike right out of his hand and then it’s just fading off the plate,” Jaso explained. “It was moving about three feet. Once they start to swing on his fastball, they can’t hold it back.”

Price (12-11) broke the team mark for strikeouts shared by Scott Kazmir and James Shields.

“He had everything working today, the changeup, the slider, the backdoor cutter,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Everything was working off the fastball. That’s why their hitters could not get comfortable at all.”

Price allowed only three singles and walked two. His first seven outs all came by a strikeout, with two hits mixed in during that span.

“He’s got great movement,” Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu said. “You can get down in the count right away.”

After leaving the game, Price wrote a birthday greeting for his mother on his hand and flashed it for TV cameras. He’d sent her flowers and a card on Friday, but figured she’d like the win even more.

Rays pitchers set a team mark by fanning 18 batters overall. Reliever Brandon Gomes struck out two in 1 1/3 innings and Cesar Ramos struck out two to end it.

“It’s fun to catch when you’ve got something like that going,” Jaso said.

Jennings homered on the first pitch of the game and got a career-high four hits. He drove in three runs, scored three, drew a walk and stole a base from the leadoff spot.

Sean Rodriguez added a two-run homer and Matt Joyce doubled twice during a six-run ninth as the Rays improved to an AL-best 20-9 since July 28.

The Blue Jays lost their fourth straight. They finished with five hits.

Price quickly matched his career high, striking out 12 through five innings. The left-hander didn’t fan anyone in the sixth, but finished his outing with two more strikeouts in the seventh, matching and then passing Kazmir (2007) and Shields (2011) for the Rays’ record.

Price improved to 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto.

Price didn’t give his defense much to do in the first three innings. He did allow a pair of baserunners over that span: Mike McCoy led off the first with a walk and Jose Molina hit a two-out single in the second. Neither runner advanced.

McCoy was the first batter to make an out on a batted ball when he grounded to second in the third. McCoy, who walked again in the sixth, was the only Blue Jays batter not to strike out against Price.

Toronto’s 18 strikeouts were a season-high, two more they had in a 3-1 road loss to the Angels on April 10. The franchise record is 19, set twice previously, both times in extra-inning games.

Jennings put Tampa Bay ahead right away, connecting against Brandon Morrow (9-9) for the first leadoff home run of his career.

“It’s an early run and gets the team up and the pitcher, especially David, he doesn’t need many runs,” Jennings said.

After John Jaso’s RBI double in the second scored B.J. Upton, Rodriguez hit a two-run shot into the second deck in left. Jennings made it back-to-back homers when he followed with another drive to left, his first multihomer game.

Morrow (9-9) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander has given up five homers in his past 10 innings. He lost for the fourth time in five starts.

Notes

• Blue Jays manager John Farrell (pneumonia) missed his third straight game, with bench coach Don Wakamatsu continuing to run the team.
• Toronto LHP Wil Ledezma was designated for assignment after allowing six runs in the ninth. Rays RHP Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) was available after missing the previous four games.
• Toronto 1B Adam Lind, mired in a 3-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting lineup.
• Blue Jays RHP Jon Rauch (appendectomy) threw a bullpen session before the game, his second in three days.
• Toronto OF Rajai Davis (torn left hamstring) has begun jogging and taking batting practice at the team’s minor league complex in Florida and could return before the end of the season.
• Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-7) faces Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero (12-9) in Monday’s series finale.