Editor's
note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby
Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select a Valentine quote that sums up
the day for the Red Sox.
BOSTON –– There's a reason David Price is vying for a Cy
Young.
Amid a last-second playoff push, the Rays pitcher absolutely
dominated the Red Sox on Tuesday en route to handing them a 5-2 loss. In a
complete game effort, he fanned 13 batters and surrendered just seven hits.
It marked his 19th victory of the season, tying Angels
starter Jered Weaver for the most in the American League. His arsenal of
pitches earned an impressive endorsement from Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine.
"He
can win the Cy Young, yep," Valentine said. "He’s got a shot at 20
games and 200 strikeouts and a lot of innings, great durability. Great
competitor. He could be a Cy Young Award winner."
That's
not to say the Red Sox lacked a formidable counterpart in Clay Buchholz. But on Tuesday, he
uncharacteristically sputtered early on, yielding three runs in the second
inning before dropping his fourth straight decision.
Unlike
the previous losses, Buchholz admitted to losing his feel. Entering the game,
he hadn't surrendered a home run in over 31 innings, but relented in the second
inning by allowing a three-run shot to Jeff Keppinger.
"Hadn't
felt that way since all the trouble was going on early in the season,"
Buchholz said. "It was just in good time it would happen sooner or later.
You want to go out there and win, but when you don't have feel for pitches you
usually throw for a strike or throw in the area you want to throw them, it's
tough to go out there and win."
Given
the Red Sox started six players who began the season in Pawtucket, Price had a
field day. His 13 strikeouts matched Felix Hernandez and Stephen Strasburg for
most punchouts by a pitcher against the Red Sox this season.
"Price
was outstanding," outfielder Cody Ross said. "It just goes to show
why he's one of the elite pitchers. He got himself in some trouble early and
probably didn't have his best stuff early on, but he reached back and found it
and was dominating after that. He just kept coming out with big strikeouts and
ground balls. His stuff was as good as anybody's."
It
showed since he eclipsed the 200-strikeout mark while tossing his second
complete game of the season. With those credentials –– along with a 2.56 ERA ––
a Cy Young could be well within reach for Price.
