Tampa Bay’s Shields throws 11th complete game (AP)

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – James Shields pitched a four-hitter for his major league-best 11th complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 5-1 on Monday.

Shields (14-10) struck out six and walked two. The only run he allowed scored on Michael Young’s grounder with one out in the ninth.

Shields also became the first AL pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1993 to have at least 200 strikeouts and 10 complete games in the same season when he fanned Josh Hamilton in the first.

The only other 200-strikeout, 10-complete game pitcher since 2000 was CC Sabathia, who accomplished the feat when the left-hander pitched for Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2008 season.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who are 24-13 since July 28. The victory was the 500th overall for Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in five innings. The Rangers were coming off a big series at Boston during which they won two of three.

Longoria hit a solo drive in the first for his 25th homer. He has 61 RBIs over his last 67 games.

Casey Kotchman drove in two with a single and another run scored on John Jaso’s double-play grounder as Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the fourth. The Rays loaded the bases with one out on three walks from Feldman.

Upton added a solo shot in the seventh.

Feldman made his second spot start this season in place of Alexi Ogando, who the Rangers thought needed a break. The right-hander threw six innings in his other start, a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay last Tuesday.

Ogando entered in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning.

Texas had a runner on second with two out in the first, second and fifth, but failed to score. Shields induced a double-play grounder from Young after Hamilton drew a walk to start the fourth.

NOTES: Tampa Bay DH Johnny Damon (sore leg) rested. … Texas 3B Adrian Beltre, who returned from a strained left hamstring last Thursday, is scheduled to DH twice in the three-game series on artificial turf. … Rays 2B Ben Zobrist was back in the lineup after missing two games because of neck stiffness. … Rangers manager Ron Washington said the left index finger of LHP C.J. Wilson (14-6), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, is fine. Wilson had an infield single in his start last Thursday go off the finger. … Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach will come off the bench as the team takes a close look at other catchers, including Jose Labaton. … Rays RHP Jeff Niemann (9-6) will pitch against Wilson on Tuesday.

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