Shields takes another positive step for Chicago White Sox
For the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday night's 9-6 win over the Minnesota Twins was a crossed-up case of it's not how you finish but how you start.
The finish was not good at all, as relievers Matt Purke and Dan Jennings combined to allow 5 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks in the ninth inning while almost blowing a 9-1 lead.
Purke was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte after the game, which opens the door for third baseman/first baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson to join the Sox on Thursday.
A careless defensive play by second baseman Brett Lawrie didn't help matters in the ninth, but the White Sox did hold on at U.S. Cellular Field while bouncing back up to .500 at 39-39.
The start of the game was very encouraging for the Sox.
Taking the mound for the fifth time since being acquired from the San Diego Padres in a June 4 trade, James Shields allowed 1 run on 8 hits in 6⅔ innings and won his first game in a White Sox uniform.
"I feel I had pretty good stuff," Shields said. "Me and Navvy (catcher Dioner Navarro) were on the same page tonight and just really attacking hitters and getting ahead of hitters, and obviously the guys made some great plays on defense, which helps out a lot.
"It feels good. It's something to build off of. I don't really put too much emphasis on my starts. I just go start to start and go from there. But right now we've just got to win ballgames, and that's what it's all about."
Shields was hearing the usual boos when Twins leadoff man Eduardo Nunez crushed his second pitch of the game over the left-field fence.
"After the first one, he got back into a rhythm," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think this is the best that he looked as far as just feeling comfortable. I think locating, he was getting ahead. He started really using his fastball and he located it.
"I think after that, there was some off-speed stuff and he got guys swinging through it. This was a nice little thing to see. I'm sure it's a breath of fresh air for him."
It was.
Before pitching better at Boston last Thursday, Shields gave up 21 earned runs on 24 hits (5 home runs) in just 8⅔ innings over his first three starts with the White Sox.
"It was nice," said Todd Frazier, who homered and doubled. "It was a little different. He got out there not worrying about anything. Gave up the homer to the first batter and nothing really fazed him after that.
"He has to understand he's going to give up runs here and there and just relax from whatever happens from there. He pitched an exceptional game today."