GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (21-36) at TAMPA BAY (23-31)

AL: KANSAS CITY (21-36) at TAMPA BAY (23-31)

<h3>Shields looks to remain undefeated for Devil Rays</h3>

Kansas City (21-36) at Tampa Bay (23-31) 3:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- James Shields and the TampaBay Devil Rays face off against the Kansas City Royals in thefinale of a four-game series on Monday.

After four straight no-decisions, Shields (4-0, 3.13 ERA)finally was able to break through, allowing three runs to theDetroit Tigers in recording his first complete-game win onWednesday.

The 25-year-old righthander won his lone career outing vs.Kansas City, throwing six scoreless frames with five strikeoutsfor an 8-2 triumph on June 11.

The Devil Rays snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a5-1 victory. J.P. Howell pitched eight brilliant innings inhis season debut and Delmon Young and Carlos Pena both homered.

The Royals will counter with Gil Meche (3-4, 3.00), who seekshis first victory in a month. He was impressive in his lastouting, yielding one run in 7 1/3 frames in a 3-0 setbackagainst the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Meche, who has not absorbed four consecutive defeats in a singleseason since July 2003, is just 1-3 in six career startsagainst Tampa Bay.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

KANSAS CITY TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Dejesus CF .257 4 14 Elijah Dukes CF .212 10 19
Esteban German 2B .273 2 13 B.J. Upton 2B .318 8 29
Mark Teahen RF .277 5 27 Carl Crawford LF .296 5 31
Mike Sweeney DH .242 6 23 Greg Norton DH .167 1 2
Alex Gordon 3B .176 3 8 Carlos Pena 1B .297 11 29
Emil Brown LF .226 2 19 Ty Wigginton 3B .242 10 27
John Buck C .281 8 19 Delmon Young RF .249 7 28
Ryan Shealy 1B .223 2 13 Dioner Navarro C .185 0 10
Tony Pena Jr SS .266 0 14 Brendan Harris SS .304 4 18

Gil Meche RHP (3-4, 3.00) James Shields RHP (4-0, 3.13)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: KAN - GIL MECHE (3-4, 3.00)
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS (4-0, 3.13)

UMPIRES: HP - ED RAPUANO
1B - ED HICKOX
2B - C.B. BUCKNOR
3B - JOE WEST

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: KAN - GIL MECHE AND JOHN BUCK
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS AND DIONER NAVARRO

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.257, 4 HR, 14 RBI)
E GERMAN (.273, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.277, 5 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E DUKES (.212, 10 HR, 19 RBI)
B UPTON (.318, 8 HR, 29 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.296, 5 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
E Brown lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
B Upton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.00

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.09

Pitches-strikes: J Shields 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Shields 0-2.
Batters faced: J Shields 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M SWEENEY (.242, 6 HR, 23 RBI)
A GORDON (.176, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
E BROWN (.226, 2 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
E Brown lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.96

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.09

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 10-6; J Shields 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-2; J Shields 0-2. Batters faced: G Meche 3; J Shields 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.167, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
C PENA (.297, 11 HR, 29 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.242, 10 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.96

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.06

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 10-6; J Shields 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-2; J Shields 0-4. Batters faced: G Meche 3; J Shields 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CARLOS PENA (12) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 2ND OFF GIL MECHE.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0, TAMPA BAY 1

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T WIGGINTON (.242, 10 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.281, 8 HR, 19 RBI)
R SHEALY (.223, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
T PENA JR (.266, 0 HR, 14 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .160
C Pena 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Pena (12, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Pena
(30). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 3.04

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.06

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 22-15; J Shields 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 3-2; J Shields 0-4. Batters faced: G Meche 7; J Shields 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D NAVARRO (.185, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
B HARRIS (.304, 4 HR, 18 RBI)
E DUKES (.210, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Shealy 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .160
C Pena 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - C Pena (12, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Pena
(30). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 3.04

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.02

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 22-15; J Shields 36-24. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 3-2; J Shields 1-5. Batters faced: G Meche 7; J Shields 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY ELIJAH DUKES SCORED DIONER NAVARRO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B HARRIS ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
TAMPA BAY 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.317, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.255, 0-FOR-1)
E GERMAN (.270, 0-FOR-1)
M TEAHEN (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (0) VS TAMPA BAY (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E German 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .175
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Shealy 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - D DeJesus (3, ground ball).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .210
B Upton 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .160
C Pena 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .185
B Harris ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 9 2 1 2 0 2 2

BATTING: HR - C Pena (12, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). SF - E Dukes.
RBI - C Pena (30), E Dukes (20). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 011 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 3 1 2 2 0 2 1 3.11

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.02

HBP - D Navarro (by G Meche). Pitches-strikes: G Meche 45-28; J Shields
36-24. Ground balls-fly balls: G Meche 3-3; J Shields 1-5. Batters faced: G
Meche 11; J Shields 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
TAM - JAMES SHIELDS

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.294, 0-FOR-1)
G NORTON (.160, 0-FOR-1)
C PENA (.302, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>