Rays turn to pitcher Kazmir for Game 5

BOSTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir gets the start Thursday for the Tampa Bay Rays, who are one win over the Boston Red Sox away from their first World Series.

Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon Wednesday said he was replacing scheduled starter James Shields with Kazmir for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series Thursday in Boston. The Rays own a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Shields would get the start in a potential Game 6 Saturday in Florida.

Maddon said Kazmir has had more success at Boston's Fenway Park. Shields, 0-3 with a 10.12 earned run average in three career starts in Boston, has been strong at home. He was 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA in home games in the regular season.

The change allows Kazmir, who started ALCS Game 2 and allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a game the Rays won in 11 innings, to pitch on a regular amount of rest. He owns a 4-4 record and 3.02 ERA in games pitched in Fenway Park.