Given the length of Spring Training this year, Rays manager Joe Maddon has been holding back his starters from pitching in games. Shields, who will be the team's Opening Day starter in Boston on April 6, became the first set member of the Tampa Bay rotation to make a spring appearance Saturday, when the Rays played the Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park.

"It was a lot of fun," Shields said. "It was good to get the rest, but now here we are and ready to go."

Shields also likes pitching at the Rays' new Spring Training facility.

"I liked the mound," Shields said. "It seems like you're right on top of the hitters. That's all that matters to me. The people here are great. When you have a sold-out crowd, it's a pretty nice atmosphere."

Shields allowed one run on two hits, while fanning two over two innings in the Rays' 15-7 victory. His first strikeout of the spring came against Jed Lowrie, who swung and missed a changeup.

Maddon said Shields' outing was "what you would expect, kind of."

"[He] came out and threw strikes, threw the ball well," Maddon said. "I just liked the way he threw the ball today. It looked very familiar."

Shields said he felt in harmony in the first inning, but that his mechanics were off in the second frame.

"[In the] first inning, my body was where it needed to be, therefore, my pitches were where they needed to be," Shields said. "[In the] second inning, I was rushing a little bit, but it's Spring Training."

Shields said the game plan called for him to throw only fastballs and changeups this time out.

"But once I got out there, I kind of figured I might as well throw out the whole arsenal at them," Shields said.

Shields threw 22 pitches -- including one curve and four to five cutters.

"[It was] nice and efficient -- got my work in," Shields said. "They wanted me to throw about 30 [pitches]."

Shields said he'll likely throw three to four innings in his next outing and up it to four or five frames after that.

"[I've] been a little antsy, trying to get into the routine again," Shields said. "Today I kind of forgot about what time I needed to be out there, how long it takes me to warm up and stuff -- all routine stuff."

Shields doesn't think his late start will affect his preparation for the regular season.

"There's no doubt about it," Shields said. "We're going to have the same amount of innings that we normally have. With the [Classic] going on and the season starting about a week later, it works out well."

While Shields generally never cares who he pitches against, he wasn't that upset about the collection of Red Sox that made the trip to Port Charlotte on Saturday.

"I'm not going to lie," Shields said. "I'm kind of glad they didn't bring the 'A' squad."