i saw in the artscroll yershalmi edition of berachos daf 2a and mentions that seudat erev shabbat was close to tzes because it was talking about dinnertime of villagers than that of city people. Villagers eat their seudat shabbat meal a little before tzes and artscroll makes a note of how this fits in with the R'I's opinion in our tosfos.
This is thier note on daf 2a of berachos, note 5:
"Since the villagers came home before darkness fell, the first barasia must hold that the evening shema me be recited slightly before the stars come out (Ri cited by Tosfos to bavli 2a d'h meaimasai, see chareidim, Mahara fulda, pnei moshe, cf. shaagos aryeh section 3)"
however, the gemara mentions that even though they may recite it slightly before tzes they dont discharge there obligation. they just say to say words of torah and must repeat it after tzes.
The Ri is of the opinion in the bavli that they do discharge their obligation.
I don't know about the Art-Scroll. I do know however, that Rashi cites a Yerushalmi, which maintains that the main Sh'ma is 'Keri'as Sh'ma al ha'Mitah', because one has not fulfilled one's obligation with the Sh'ma that is said in Shul (before nightfall).
Whereas the Ri holds that the Sh'ma that is said in Shul is the main Sh'ma, and, based on the Beraisa on Amud Beis, one does fulfill one's obligation when reciting it. So how can the Ri hold like the Yerushalmi?
be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler.