GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (33-51) at KANSAS CITY (36-49)

AL: TAMPA BAY (33-51) at KANSAS CITY (36-49)

<h3>Devil Rays hope to end losing skid against Royals</h3>



<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (33-51) at Kansas City (36-49) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- James Shields gets the startas the Tampa Bay Devil Rays look to end an 11-game losing streakwhen they face the Kansas City Royals in the opener of athree-game series on Friday.

Shields (6-4, 3.76 ERA) has not recorded a win since June 9.

After starting the season 6-0, the 25-year-old righthander hasposted an 0-4 record with a 6.66 ERA in his last four starts.

Shields has registered 27 strikeouts as opposed to just one walkbut has seen his ERA balloon from 3.04 in that span.

The Devil Rays have lost 14 of their 16 contests and fallen intolast place in the AL East, 20 games behind the division-leadingBoston Red Sox.

The Royals will counter with Odalis Perez (4-7, 5.56), who hasnot lost since June 13.

The 30-year-old Perez posted a 4-7 record with a 3.00 ERA over18 innings in his previous three starts.

The Dominican lefthander did not receive a decision in lastSaturday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Perez yieldedjust one run and three hits with four walks and three strikeoutsover seven innings.

Kansas City had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 4-0loss to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY AT KANSAS CITY -- LINEUPS

TAMPA BAY KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .294 3 12 David Dejesus CF .288 5 31
Carl Crawford LF .286 6 51 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .267 4 26
Brendan Harris SS .305 8 36 Mark Teahen RF .288 5 42
Ty Wigginton 2B .270 13 42 Ross Gload 1B .252 2 19
Delmon Young CF .275 9 45 Alex Gordon 3B .228 6 24
Carlos Pena 1B .283 19 49 Billy Butler DH .274 2 12
Jonny Gomes RF .248 6 17 John Buck C .245 14 28
Jorge Cantu DH .226 0 4 Joey Gathright LF .317 0 7
Raul Casanova C .297 4 7 Tony Pena Jr SS .275 1 22

James Shields RHP (6-4, 3.76) Odalis Perez LHP (4-7, 5.56)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS (6-4, 3.76)
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ (4-7, 5.56)

UMPIRES: HP - TOM HALLION
1B - JAMES HOYE
2B - SCOTT BARRY
3B - PHIL CUZZI

WEATHER: 90 Degrees, clear</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS AND RAUL CASANOVA
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ AND JOHN BUCK

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.298, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.286, 6 HR, 51 RBI)
B HARRIS (.305, 8 HR, 36 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRENDAN HARRIS SCORED AKINORI IWAMURA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B HARRIS ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 1
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T WIGGINTON (.270, 13 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS PENA SCORED BRENDAN HARRIS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C PENA ON FIRST, T WIGGINTON ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.248, 6 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 2 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.288, 5 HR, 31 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.267, 4 HR, 26 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.288, 5 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
B Harris ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .308
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
C Pena 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
J Cantu dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
R Casanova c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 7 2 4 2 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (11, O Perez). RBI - B Harris (37), C Pena (50). 2-out
RBI - C Pena. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 1. Team LOB -
2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 2 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.76

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
O Perez 1 4 2 2 0 1 0 5.69

Pitches-strikes: O Perez 18-14. Ground balls-fly balls: O Perez 1-1. Batters
faced: O Perez 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 2 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J CANTU (.226, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
R CASANOVA (.297, 4 HR, 7 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.298, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
B Harris ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .308
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
C Pena 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
J Cantu dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
R Casanova c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 7 2 4 2 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (11, O Perez). RBI - B Harris (37), C Pena (50). 2-out
RBI - C Pena. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 1. Team LOB -
2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 2 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.73

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
O Perez 1 4 2 2 0 1 0 5.69

Pitches-strikes: J Shields 13-9; O Perez 18-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Shields 1-0; O Perez 1-1. Batters faced: J Shields 4; O Perez 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 0 2 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.228, 6 HR, 24 RBI)
B BUTLER (.274, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
J BUCK (.245, 14 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
B Harris ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .308
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
C Pena 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
J Cantu dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222
R Casanova c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289

Totals 10 2 4 2 0 3 4

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (11, O Perez). RBI - B Harris (37), C Pena (50). 2-out
RBI - C Pena. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 1. Team LOB -
2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 20 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.73

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
O Perez 2 4 2 2 0 3 0 5.63

Pitches-strikes: J Shields 13-9; O Perez 33-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Shields 1-0; O Perez 1-2. Batters faced: J Shields 4; O Perez 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JOEY GATHRIGHT SCORED ALEX GORDON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J GATHRIGHT ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.275, 1 HR, 22 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 0 2 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 1 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.285, 0-FOR-1)
B HARRIS (.308, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.272, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS KANSAS CITY (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
B Harris ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .308
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274
C Pena 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
J Cantu dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222
R Casanova c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289

Totals 10 2 4 2 0 3 4

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (11, O Perez). RBI - B Harris (37), C Pena (50). 2-out
RBI - C Pena. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 1. Team LOB -
2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .230
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .270
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
J Gathright lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 5

BATTING: 2B - J Gathright (4, J Shields). RBI - J Gathright (8). 2-out RBI - J
Gathright. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 20 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.77

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
O Perez 2 4 2 2 0 3 0 5.63

WP - J Shields 2. Pitches-strikes: J Shields 37-26; O Perez 33-23. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Shields 1-2; O Perez 1-2. Batters faced: J Shields 9; O
Perez 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY DELMON YOUNG SCORED CARL CRAWFORD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D YOUNG ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 3
KANSAS CITY 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.286, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 0 1 3 6 0
KANSAS CITY 0 1 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.287, 0-FOR-1)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.271, 1-FOR-1)
M TEAHEN (.287, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (3) VS KANSAS CITY (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
C Crawford lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .308
T Wigginton 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .271
D Young cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 .276
C Pena 1b 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .285
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .246
J Cantu dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222
R Casanova c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289

Totals 14 3 6 3 0 3 6

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (11, O Perez); C Crawford (21, O Perez); D Young (18, O
Perez). S - B Harris. RBI - B Harris (37), C Pena (50), D Young (46). 2-out RBI
- C Pena, D Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 1, J Gomes
1. Team LOB - 3.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .230
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .270
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
J Gathright lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 5

BATTING: 2B - J Gathright (4, J Shields). RBI - J Gathright (8). 2-out RBI - J
Gathright. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 201 -- 3
KANSAS CITY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.77

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
O Perez 3 6 3 3 0 3 0 5.67

WP - J Shields 2. Pitches-strikes: J Shields 37-26; O Perez 43-30. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Shields 1-2; O Perez 4-2. Batters faced: J Shields 9; O
Perez 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 2 0 1 3 6 0
KANSAS CITY 0 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS
KAN - ODALIS PEREZ

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.246, 0-FOR-1)
J CANTU (.222, 0-FOR-1)
R CASANOVA (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>