James Shield delivers a pitch against his former team as he picked up the victory. (photo/MLB)
James Shields came over in a trade to the Royals from Tampa Bay back in December of 2012. It was a seven player deal that included top pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi. On Monday night at Tropicana Field, the two main pieces of that trade squared off against each other.
Shields held the Rays to three hits while striking out 10 in seven innings to help the Royals beat his former team 6-0. Shields won his only previous matchup against his former team 8-2 at Kauffman Stadium last April.
Alex Gordon and Omar Infante drove in runs in the third inning for the Royals, giving Shields all the offensive support he would need to beat Odorizzi. Odorizzi allowed two runs and six hits, and struck out eight and walked two in his third career appearance against the Royals.
The Royals tacked on two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth as Infante and Gordon picked up their second RBIs of the game. Eric Hosmer doubled in a run and Mike Moustakas had a sac fly RBI.
