PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Midway through his final spring training tuneup, Tampa Bay opening day starter James Shields shifted into regular-season mode.
The right-hander worked a perfect third and fourth innings Wednesday, rebounding from a shaky first two innings to help the Rays close the Florida portion of their exhibition schedule with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The defending AL champions broke camp after the game and will play exhibitions in Philadelphia Friday and Saturday before opening the season Monday on the road against the Boston Red Sox.
Gabe Gross homered and Carl Crawford had a RBI single off right-hander Philip Humber during Tampa Bay's two-run fifth. Matt Tolbert was 2-for-3 and drove in Minnesota's only run with a second-inning single off Shields.
"I had to get my adrenalin going a little bit," said Shields, who gave up a first-inning double to Alexi Casilla before allowing three straight singles and throwing a wild pitch to begin the second inning.
The right-hander settled to retire the last nine batters he faced, including a flawless third and fourth.
It was especially important to finish strong with Shields coming off last week's rocky outing (three homers, three walks, 11 runs and 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings) against the Twins in Fort Myers.
"In the first two innings I think I was a little lackadaisical. Those last two innings I had to get my adrenalin up and try to get it going," Shields said. "I tried to simulate (pitching) in front of a big crowd, the whole opening day thing."
Although manager Joe Maddon has not officially set the roster, several important decisions were made Wednesday.
Reliever Jason Isringhausen will begin the season on the disabled list, giving him additional time to build arm strength following elbow surgery. The move won't be made until Sunday, when injured outfielders B.J. Upton and Fernando Perez and reliever Chad Bradford also will go on the DL.
"I only had six innings since elbow surgery, and we all agreed I need a few more innings to get to where I want to be with my mechanics and my arm strength and stuff, so this is the right thing to do," said Isringhausen, who spent the past seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and has 293 career saves.
"This is the right situation for me. I love the team. Love the guys, the management, the GM, everything. So, it's kind of a no-brainer for me."
Meanwhile, second baseman Adam Kennedy, first baseman Chris Richard, infielder Ray Olmedo, catcher Michel Hernandez and outfielders Jon Weber and Ray Sadler have been told they will not make the team and will be reassigned to minor league camp after Saturday's exhibition in Philadelphia.
Matt Joyce, obtained in an offseason trade that sent starting pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers, beat out Justin Ruggiano for a spot as the fourth outfielder -- even if it may wind up being until the April 13 home opener, when Upton hopes to be fully recovered from shoulder surgery.
"They told me it could be for a short stay or it could be for a long stay, and take it for what it's worth. At least I get to break camp with them," Joyce said. "I get to play in Boston for now. When B.J. comes back, we'll see how it goes and we'll see how everything works out."
Maddon said there's a chance that Joyce, who missed part of spring training with right leg tendinitis, could start the opener in center field.
"Good for him, because the way it started out it didn't look like this," Maddon said. "But he worked his way back into the picture."
A decision on the fifth spot in the pitching rotation will not be made until Sunday, when right-handers Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann are scheduled to work in minor league games in Port Charlotte.
