ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - No one in Tampa Bay’s clubhouse is ready to declare James Shields the ace of the Devil Rays’ young pitching staff. But he just might be the most consistent starter.

Shields took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and Carlos Pena homered for the second straight day yesterday to lead the Devil Rays to a 4-2 victory over Kansas City and a split of a four-game series.

"He’s pitched so well," Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon said. "The team goes out there with a different mental edge about it."

With All-Star Scott Kazmir struggling to win, Shields (5-0) has been Tampa Bay’s best starting pitcher. He has one complete game and exited each of his other 11 starts with the lead or the score tied.

Shields struck out five, walked one and was headed for his second straight complete game before giving up John Buck’s second homer of the day and a single to Tony Pena in the eighth.

Casey Fossum, Shawn Camp and Gary Glover protected a one-run lead the rest of the eighth and closer Al Reyes came on in the ninth for his 14th save in as many chances.

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