Home runs continue haunting veteran Shields

CHICAGO — James Shields produced his best start of August during the Phillies’ 5-3 victory over the White Sox Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

The veteran right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings in the Interleague contest, having allowed 27 earned runs in 14 innings during four previous trips to the mound this month. But once again, the home run ball came back to hurt him.

Cesar Hernandez went deep leading off the third and Tommy Joseph connected with two outs in the sixth, meaning Shields has yielded 22 home runs during the 75 2/3 innings thrown since being acquired by the White Sox. Since the start of 2015, opponents have gone deep a Major League-high 64 times against Shields.

That number becomes an even bigger problem with potentially two years remaining on his contract pitching at a hitter-friendly home ballpark on the south side of Chicago.

“It’s always going to be an …

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