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Shields primed to face another club's ace

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By Zach Schonbrun / MLB.com

06/25/09 10:50 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG -- For the second time this season, the Rays' ace will match up against his counterpart for the Marlins.

The similarities end there.

Rays slight right-hander James Shields is ready for Round 2 against the Marlins' Josh Johnson, a bulky 6-foot-7 hurler known to reach triple digits with his fastball.

"I'm glad I'm not hitting this time," Shields joked.

It's the third time Shields will face Johnson in six career starts against the Marlins. He hasn't beaten him yet.

Both are coming off superb performances against New York teams on Saturday: Shields outdueled the Mets' Johan Santana in Queens; Johnson shut down the Yankees on three hits in seven innings.

And Johnson, who's 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA this season, outpitched Shields when they last met, too, though both finished with no-decisions in an 11-inning Marlins victory in Miami. Johnson allowed three runs in seven innings with seven strikeouts.

For Shields, who has toed the rubber against opposing aces all season, it's just another difficult matchup on a long list of them.

"It's been kind of a challenge, but I'm up to it," Shields said. "We didn't get him in Florida too well, but anytime you're seeing somebody twice, it helps."

Another storyline to keep an eye on will be whether the Rays decide to retaliate for Florida's Chris Coghlan's slide into second base on May 24, which injured Akinori Iwamura's left knee. Iwamura, who just had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, will be out another six to eight weeks.

However, both Shields and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon downplayed the confrontation. Coghlan apologized to Iwamura in the Rays' clubhouse after the game. Maddon felt it was an inadvertent play from a hustling young player.

"That kid plays hard," Maddon said. "I liked the way he played. I thought he slid a little late, but there's no malicious intent. He slid hard and he got him. That happens. I know Aki was not happy with the whole thing, but he understood it. It's one of those things that happens."

Pitching matchup
TB: RHP James Shields (6-5, 3.36 ERA)
Shields has a well earned reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the late innings, which is evidenced by two consecutive seasons of 215 innings. Shields is 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins. He is 23-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 52 career starts at Tropicana Field.

FLA: RHP Josh Johnson (7-1, 2.66 ERA)
Johnson was outstanding in his last outing as he outpitched A.J. Burnett to pick up his seventh win of the year. The 6-foot-7 ace had the Yankees baffled, inducing several weak grounders over his seven innings. New York could only scratch one run across against Florida's top pitcher as he held them to three hits while striking out five. Johnson will look to continue his success against the Rays in his next start after pitching seven strong innings against them on May 24.

Tidbits
Wednesday night's Rays-Phillies game was broadcast on MLB International and picked up in Australia, where Grant Balfour's family was able to watch. Balfour made a special television greeting for his grandfather, who is ill. "They got to see it," Balfour said. "It was cool. It worked out nice." Balfour said he was slightly disappointed he didn't get to pitch in the game, but it's not the first game that's been able to be viewed in his hometown in Glenwood, Australia, and it likely won't be the last. ... Maddon said right-handed reliever Chad Bradford could be activated as soon as this weekend. Bradford has been out the entire season following right elbow surgery. ... Maddon said the team hasn't decided when left-hander Scott Kazmir will rejoin the club. Kazmir's bullpen session went well on Wednesday and he's expected to make his next start in the Major Leagues.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FS-F

On radio
• WDAE 620

Up next
• Saturday: Rays (Jeff Niemann, 6-4, 4.23) vs. Marlins (Chris Volstad, 5-7, 4.74), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Rays (David Price, 1-2, 4.45) vs. Marlins (Andrew Miller, 2-3, 4.17), 1:38 p.m. ET
• Monday: Rays (Matt Garza, 5-5, 3.61) at Blue Jays (TBD), 7:07 p.m. ET

Zach Schonbrun is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.