Shields hammered again in 3rd White Sox start
James Shields isn't making many friends on the South Side.
The right-hander's struggles wearing the Chicago White Sox uniform continued to mount in his third start for the team Saturday, as he allowed eight runs on seven hits while walking three over just 1 2/3 innings pitched. When he left, the Cleveland Indians were leading 6-0; they would add two more to Shields' total thanks to reliever Matt Purke forcing a bases-loaded walk, and a throwing error by catcher Dioner Navarro.
Since being traded to the White Sox on June 4, Shields has allowed 22 runs - 21 of them earned - in 8 2/3 innings pitched. His numbers look even worse when counting his last start as a member of the Padres, when he gave up 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings.
| IP | ERA | H | HR | BB | K | Opp. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 5/31 | 64.2 | 3.06 | 61 | 7 | 23 | 56 | .256 |
| After 5/31 | 11.1 | 24.62 | 32 | 7 | 13 | 6 | .485 |
The eight runs allowed Saturday made Shields the 16th pitcher since 1913 to give up seven or more runs in four consecutive starts, and the first since former Cardinals pitcher Mike Maroth in 2007.
Saturday's outing was just the third start of the 34-year-old's career in which he failed to complete the second inning. Both of those previous outings came while he pitched in Tampa Bay, and one was by design on the final day of the 2008 season, to give him some rest before the playoffs.
Shields couldn't come up with an answer for what may be behind his recent struggles.
''It's disappointing, and we've got to figure this thing out,'' he told reporters after the game. ''We've got to keep going out there. That's the only way to go. This is a special team and I've got to keep grinding.''
Shields' next chance to rewrite the beginning of his White Sox career will come Thursday, when he faces the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.