ANAHEIM, Calif., June 17 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Angels have lost reliever Scot Shields to season-ending left knee surgery.
The team's most valuable relief pitcher in 2008 had been plagued by patella tendinitis this season before deciding to undergo the surgery, performed Tuesday by orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum at the Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center in Los Angeles.
"The way I was pitching this year wasn't fair to me and wasn't fair to the team and wasn't doing us any good," the veteran right hander told the Los Angeles Times.
Shields will miss at least the next six months after trying to pitch through the pain.
He had thrown more innings (425) over the past five seasons than any other major league pitcher and had at least 31 saves in each of the past three.
Shields finished the 2009 season with a 1-3 record, a 6.62 ERA and one save in 20 appearances (17 2/3 innings).
A replacement has yet to be announced.
