- Kevin Tall
- Stock photo
In the Sunshine State, visiting the city that plays host to the Heat, James Shields was on fire.
Big Game James threw his third complete game of the year for the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon, this one a three-hit shutout of the Florida Marlins, salvaging the last outing of a three-game set against the Fish with an unbelievable performance.
It’s a great PR move for Shields.
Clearly this performance was a shameless act of self-promotion in anticipation of his upcoming t-shirt giveaway later this week.
Well done, sir. Those shirts will be almost as hot as the 13 strikeouts you laid down on Miami hitters.
Shields battered Marlins batters all day with his put-away changeup in the 13-K performance, the second time this year Shields has thrown 12 or more in a game. In his 10th start, he notched his third complete game of the year, allowing four hits or less in each of those outings. Sunday’s game marked the second complete-game shutout for Shields in his last six starts.
And David Price is considered the ace.
Not bad for the No. 2 guy.
Jimmy got some early run support in the second inning.
He drove in the first run.
This article appears in May 19-25, 2011.