"The dominant three-hit complete game was the third, and the most impressive, of his thus-far remarkable bounceback season, and the second with nary a run. The 13 strikeouts were one more than he'd ever had in 161 big-league starts and matched the team record, and the 126 pitches the most he'd thrown in a game at any level.

But what James Shields — naturally — was most pleased about in the Rays' 4-0 sweep-avoiding Sunday win over the Marlins was the hard ground ball he hit to third that was misplayed by Greg Dobbs and knocked in Tampa Bay's first run.

"I definitely liked the rib-eye," Shields said. "That was real nice. It got me going, got me the lead. And that's all I needed."

As much as the Rays (26-21, and tied with the Yankees for first in the AL East) have been scuffling for runs, it was oddly appropriate that their pitcher sparked the offense. They scored their second run on a fielder's choice grounder, then two more when slumping Evan Longoria and sizzling Matt Joyce hit back-to-back doubles and Casey Kotchman tripled, but still fell short of 10 hits for a 10th straight game.

Shields, though, was so dazzling that one would have been enough. Featuring a change­up that simply baffled the Marlins and a curveball that was nearly as good, Shields allowed only three singles (in the second, seventh and eighth) and his lone walk with two outs in the ninth.

"Unbelievable," Joyce said. "Just another day he went out there and was absolutely dominant."

"He was money today," pitcher David Price said. "That was awesome."

"As good as the numbers," admitted Florida slugger Mike Stanton.

What made it better was how badly the Rays, having lost three straight and six of their past eight while in the middle of a rugged road trip that takes them to Detroit tonight, needed it.

"He wants to be that guy," manager Joe Maddon said. "He wants to be that guy. He doesn't run away from it.

"I know he's somewhat disappointed this year that he was moved to the second slot in the rotation. Not as a slight to David, he understood that, but I'm sure in the back of his mind he wants to work back to the top of a rotation. And I really respect him for that." "