Rays-Red Sox: Shields' 2-Hit Shutout Gives Team Series Sweep

Yesterday, James Shields was making noise, complaining that the Rays' home games were sounding more like Red Sox and Yankee home games. Sunday, he backed up his words in the best way possible, pitching a complete game-two hit, seven strikeout, and one walk-shutout.

The Rays’ fans certainly had plenty to cheer about, and so they should, with the Rays extending their winning streak to a near-three-year-best six games, thanks in no small part to Shields' brilliant performance, retiring all but three batters at the plate and eliminating one more on a double play.

The game had been billed as a pitchers’ duel and the starters did not disappoint. Josh Beckett brought what he delivered so many times in 2007, striking out eight Rays in the nine he faced through three innings, striking out 13 through his seven innings of work.

While Beckett had more strikeouts, he surrendered more hits and ran up his pitch count quickly, effectively driving himself from the game. He only allowed two runs, one earned, the other coming on a double error play on a failed pickoff of Jason Bartlett at first base with the ball rolling all the way to the Boston bullpen. The return throw then missed the cutoff man, trickling down the first base line giving Bartlett to score easily from third.

Evan Longoria highlighted the Rays' offense, depositing a seventh-inning offering from Beckett over the fence in left-center field for his third home run of the year and a 2-0 Rays lead.

Tampa Bay would add to its lead after Jason Bartlett, who hit on the helmet by a pitch, stole second base, and was driven home by Carl Crawford.

Shields took his third win of the year to congratulations from his team mates and fans making all the noise they could on his behalf. He now has a 3-1 record with an ERA of 2.54.

From here, the Red Sox get a day of rest, the occurrence of which many players seemed more concerned about than the Sunday lunchtime game. After that they will look to snap their losing streak at home to the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays also have the Monday off, which they hope will not affect their momentum, as they travel to Baltimore for a three game series before moving up to Fenway to face the Red Sox once more.