Shields finds redemption in short order

Scot Shields got a second chance, and he took advantage of it.

The Angels relief pitcher had been the goat Tuesday night, when he surrendered a monstrous walkoff home run to David Ortiz with one out in the ninth as the Red Sox beat Los Angeles, 3-2. Last night, Shields found himself facing Ortiz with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, and this time the pitcher won, getting the slugger on a called third strike, with the count, 3 and 2. Although the Sox left the bases loaded again in the ninth, the eighth inning, in which Shields got three batters on called third strikes, was the key sequence of a game won by the Angels, 3-0, at Fenway.

''It worked out a lot better than Tuesday," said Shields. ''I was hoping it would come down to that situation. It was the situation I wanted to have, facing one of the best hitters in the league. I was able to get David this time. The first pitch was a fastball. After that, I threw whatever [catcher] Bengie [Molina] called. That was as big of a rush as you can get.

''My confidence never goes down. Even though I got the loss Tuesday, I pitched really well. He just beat me. Sometimes you have to tip your hat. On my first pitch, I got a strike. It was big for me to get the first one. I threw some pretty good sliders after that. David's locked in, but I was able to get away with it. The last one was a changeup. I got lucky on it."

Shields came in after starter Paul Byrd gave up a ringing double to center by Kevin Millar and walked Bill Mueller. Shields struck out pinch hitter Manny Ramirez, walked Johnny Damon, then struck out Edgar Renteria, before facing Ortiz.

''I was able to go out there and throw well," said Shields. ''I felt good about the way I was pitching, and got out of there with the lead. To go in and help make sure that Paul came out with the win was huge for me."

Shields has had an up-and-down season. He has a record of 8-11, his 11 losses tying the club record for a reliever set by Mark Clear in 1980. Shields has been on the mound for five walkoff losses, and coming into last night, had a record of 2-5 with two blown saves and a 6.14 ERA in his last 14 outings.

However, he has appeared in a career-high 68 games, and the Angels are 48-20 when he pitches. He leads the American League in relief innings with 81, and is second in strikeouts by a relief pitcher with 87. He also held the Angels together when closer Francisco Rodriguez, who pitched an eventful ninth last night, was on the disabled list, saving five games in six chances. And Shields has prevented 23 of 29 inherited runners from scoring. So, it hasn't been all bad. ''Shields knows what it's all about," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who was ejected for the second straight night. ''He's been there all year for us, and most of the time he's bailed us out.

''He's taken some hits lately, but I think his confidence is right where it should be."