Red Sox Carried Out on Shields

Mike Scioscia can pore over the Sunday crosswords this morning, armed with a two-word solution for the Angels’ starting pitching woes: Scot Shields.

Filling in for the injured Kevin Appier, Shields delivered 5 1/3 impressive innings Saturday night in his second major league start to stabilize -- for the moment, at least -- a rotation hurt by injuries and ineffectiveness as the Angels toppled the Boston Red Sox, 3-1, at Edison Field.

Hand-picked and bullpen-ripened for the occasion, Shields gave up five hits and one run, which actually increased his earned-run average to a still-impeccable 0.77. The pitcher who previously had been used primarily as a long reliever struck out five while walking none to record his first victory of the season and energize a sellout crowd of 43,514.

“Pitching that deep into the game against that lineup is something that’s incredible,” said Scioscia, the Angel manager, who didn’t inform Shields that he was starting until after Friday’s game. “To give us a chance to win by pitching into the sixth inning is a great effort.”

The question is, does Shields still list “reliever” on his resume?

“I don’t think we have to make that determination now,” Scioscia said. “He could be an impact pitcher in the bullpen, which is every bit as valuable as a starter.”

Said Shields: “I see myself hopefully pitching in the major leagues, and that’s all I really care about.”

Shields was one of many Angel stars Saturday.

David Eckstein drove in two runs during a three-run fifth inning with a flare to right-center over a drawn-in infield.

Ben Weber, Brendan Donnelly and Troy Percival combined to pitch 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, although Weber gave up the hit that drove in Boston’s run.

And Gary Johnson, promoted from triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day after center fielder Darin Erstad went on the disabled list, had hits in his first two major league at-bats.

But no one was more electric than Shields, who was pulled in the sixth after yielding a one-out double to Todd Walker on his 78th pitch. Shields had thrown as many as 63 pitches in an outing this season, and entering the game, he said he could throw 90 without any problems.

Scioscia didn’t give him the chance, but Shields didn’t mind. “We’ve got a couple of other good guys down there that we can go to in that situation,” he said.

Weber relieved Shields and retired Nomar Garciaparra on a fly ball to left, but Manny Ramirez followed with a run-scoring double to right-center to break up the shutout and saddle Shields with his second earned run in 23 1/3 innings.

Shields might not be called on to start again in the near future if Appier and Aaron Sele return on schedule. Sele, scheduled to make his final rehabilitation start today for Salt Lake, could rejoin the team next week, and Appier, on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right forearm, could return shortly thereafter.

Based on performance alone, Shields might be a sensible candidate to supplant one of the struggling starters in a rotation that had a combined ERA of 6.19 before Saturday. Mickey Callaway and his 5.75 ERA could be a candidate for the bullpen.

Shields was efficient in the early going, needing only 44 pitches to get through the first four innings. He labored a bit in the fifth before escaping a two-on, one-out jam by getting Trot Nixon to ground into a fielder’s choice and striking out Jason Varitek.

Shields also benefited from some spectacular defense. First baseman Brad Fullmer made a diving catch of a line drive off the bat of Varitek in the third, and second baseman Adam Kennedy started an inning-ending double play in the fourth by diving to corral a ball hit sharply up the middle.