'Complete-Game James' gets call in finale vs. Reds

JustinVerlander35 · Jun 29, 2011

There is a belief that the complete game has become a lost art. Just don't tell that to James Shields (8-4, 2.29 ERA), who has tossed three consecutive complete games and heads into Wednesday's Reds-Rays finale looking to go the distance for the seventh time this year.

During his recent stretch, Shields has allowed just one earned run on 12 hits over 27 innings, with 24 strikeouts against just four walks.

The right-hander's performance over the last two weeks has been one of the most dominant stretches by any starting pitcher this season. Yet Shields admits he hasn't changed much and is simply executing with the purpose of putting his team in a position to win.

"I feel pretty much the same as I do before every start. It's just about going in with the mindset that it's all about having a quality outing and trying to get a win for this team," Shields said. Every time I go out there, I want to throw nine [innings]. That's been my mindset since I've been in pro ball. Nothing is going to change as far as that goes."

Shields has gone at least seven innings in nine of his last 10 starts, and enters Wednesday's outing with 121 2/3 innings already under his belt -- with three more starts (including Wednesday) expected before the All-Star Break. The Rays will rely on their deep starting pitching throughout the summer, but Shields isn't concerned about the mileage he's logging.

"I've conditioned myself pretty well to do that every time I go out. My goal is to go deep in the game, and go as far as I can, and try to get a quality start out of it," Shields said.

Countering Shields will be Edinson Volquez, who, unlike Shields, has sputtered in his last two outings -- both Interleague affairs -- after initially getting off to a hot start when he was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on June 7.

In his last two trips to the hill, Volquez has surrendered eight earned runs, 14 hits and seven walks in 9 1/3 innings. The right-hander had allowed only three earned runs with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings against National League clubs upon returning to Cincinnati. Heading into Wednesday's start, Volquez acknowledged his best formula may be to keep things simple.

"I was overthrowing a little bit. I had more power and felt strong the first two innings. After that, I settled down. I got comfortable on the mound after that," Volquez said. "I'm going to have to be better for next time."
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'Complete-Game James' gets call in finale vs. Reds

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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'Complete-Game James' gets call in finale vs. Reds

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