Shields supports own case

Scot Shields has assured Angels Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher that the patella tendinitis in his left knee is not affecting his delivery, though the reliever’s 0-2 record and 9.31 earned-run average in his first 13 games might indicate otherwise.

No words could state Shields’ case better than his performance Sunday. Shields followed Darren Oliver’s 2 1/3 -inning scoreless effort by throwing two hitless innings and striking out four to earn the win in the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“Hands down, no doubt, that’s the best we’ve seen him this season,” Scioscia said. “That’s the thing we’re most excited about today. That was terrific.”

Shields struck out cleanup batter Jose Guillen looking at a 93-mph fastball and Billy Butler looking at a 91-mph fastball to start the eighth inning. After walking Mike Jacobs, he struck out Alberto Callaspo swinging at a 92-mph fastball.

“The ball came out of his hand hot, he had great movement, he was able to locate, and he had a great breaking ball,” Scioscia said. “Put it all together, and that’s the Scot we know is in there.”

Shields, who lowered his ERA to 7.71, felt like he has “moved in the right direction” over his last few outings, but Sunday “everything clicked, I was able to throw the ball where I wanted, and I got results,” he said.

The Angels will continue to monitor Shields closely “because anything happening with the lower extremity of a pitcher, you have to be concerned with,” Scioscia said.

Shields declined to discuss his injury or his recent MRI test.

“I feel good, there’s no excuses for the way I’ve been pitching,” he said.

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Rehab report

Angels ace John Lackey, in a rehabilitation start for triple-A Salt Lake, gave up three runs and five hits in five innings against Portland on Sunday, striking out five, walking none and retiring nine straight batters at one point.

Lackey, sidelined all season because of an elbow strain, threw 75 pitches, 49 for strikes, and there is a good chance that he and right-hander Ervin Santana, who threw five innings for Salt Lake on Saturday, will be activated this week.

The Angels, as expected, will use today’s day off to skip Anthony Ortega in the rotation, and Jered Weaver, Matt Palmer and Joe Saunders will probably pitch against Boston this week.

Ortega was optioned to Salt Lake after Sunday’s game, and the Angels will probably add a third catcher Tuesday as insurance on the days catcher Mike Napoli starts as designated hitter.

The Angels will make decisions on Lackey and Santana after reviewing tapes of their games at Salt Lake.

“We don’t want [them] to waste bullets pitching in the minor leagues,” Scioscia said, “but we also want to make sure [they’re] ready for the challenge.”

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Short hops

Kelvim Escobar, who threw a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Friday, will resume his minor league rehab assignment Tuesday in Arizona, where he will pitch in extended spring-training games. . . . Bobby Abreu’s four walks Sunday tied a club record that was last achieved by Reggie Willits on Aug. 3 against the New York Yankees.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com