Price is right: Rays rookie earns Game 2 win
Reliever pitches out of jam in the 11th inning vs. Red Sox
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - David Price spent all season cruising through the minors, waiting for a chance to make a difference in the majors.
He got that opportunity Saturday night in the AL championship series, and it was a huge relief for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Price pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the 11th inning, helping Tampa Bay beat the Boston Red Sox 9-8 early Sunday and tying the ALCS at one game each.
Rays catcher Dioner Navarro and first baseman Carlos Pena helped Price get through the scoring threat with key advice.
“Navi told me, ’Just hit the glove, and don’t try to do too much,”’ Price said. “Pena came over and said, ’Act like you’re throwing in the backyard.’ After that I settled in and just had to make pitches.”
Playing his first pro season, the overall No. 1 pick from the 2007 draft started the year in Class A and went 12-1 at three different minor league levels.
The 23-year-old lefty made his big league debut on Sept. 14 at Yankee Stadium. One month later, in just his second playoff appearance, he came up big against the defending World Series champions.
Price was eligible for the playoffs despite joining the team after Sept. 1 because of a rule that allows players to take the postseason roster spot of a player on the disabled list.
Price, who could be in the Rays’ rotation next year, replaced Dan Wheeler with a runner on first and one out. After walking J.D. Drew, he settled down to strike out Mark Kotsay and then get an inning-ending grounder from Coco Crisp.
“I had to put it in perspective,” Price said. “It’s still 60 feet to home plate, so it was the same think I’ve been doing.”
Price pumped his arm walking toward the dugout after the inning was over.
The emotion carried over to the bottom of the 11th when the Rays got a winning sacrifice fly by B.J. Upton, giving Price his first win as a major leaguer.
Not a bad postseason beginning for a pitcher who worked just one-third of an inning in the first round against the Chicago White Sox.
“Pricey getting the win. I’m proud,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
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