Shields backs up Sox's offensive outburst

While Jose Abreu was hitting for the cycle Saturday night and the Chicago White Sox were hitting a season-high 6 home runs, James Shields quietly delivered a standout start.

Shields worked a season-high 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 2 hits.

"That's pretty much how you'd want to draw it up if you drew some plans, man," Shields said. "The hitters did a phenomenal job tonight of scoring early, getting me some runs. What a night. We almost had a possible three cycles. It's a pretty special night."

It's amazing Shields was even on the mound after he was hit by a line drive on the right knee and forced out of his last start, against Cleveland.

"My adrenaline kind of took over," Shields said. "I felt pretty good out there as far as the knee goes. I was mixing my pitches up pretty well today and tried to get a lot of groundballs."

Swing away:

In addition to Jose Abreu's cycle, Tim Anderson, Yolmer Sanchez, Avisail Garcia, Yoan Moncada and Nicky Delmonico also homered in the Sox's lopsided win over San Francisco.

Anderson (3-for-5) needed a double for the cycle in the eighth inning but he struck out.

"I am a person that is always cheering for others, for my teammates," Jose Abreu said. "In that moment I was cheering for (Anderson) to get a double. He couldn't do it but I am glad he had the night that he had. It was a very good night for him. The most important thing is we won. That's what matters."

Fame not fleeting:

Former White Sox outfielder Tim Raines is still walking on air after being inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 30.

"It means a lot," said Raines, who was at Guaranteed Rate Field Saturday night. "It means a lot, not only to me but to my family name, my biggest fans, family, anyone that knew me when I was a kid or even when I became a professional player. Just to know that I go in to a team that, you know, only 1 percent of all major-league players are able to do that.

"To have my name alongside the greatest players that ever played the game, it's very humbling."

Raines played for the Sox from 1991-95.

"When I came here, I came because they had a young, up-and-coming team and I felt like the time I spent in Montreal had run its course," said Raines, who spent his first 12 seasons with the Expos. "I felt like the direction that they were going wasn't the direction I wanted them to go. I felt like coming here to Chicago was a perfect fit for me."