David Price’s season is off to a stellar start.
The lefty stifled hitters Friday night as the Boston Red Sox earned their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
It certainly was a pitchers duel for both sides, as the Red Sox had trouble figuring out Tampa starter Blake Snell, who allowed just three hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings. However, Rafael Devers drove in the game’s only run with an RBI single in the seventh inning.
With the win, the Sox climb to 1-1, while the Rays fall to 1-1.
Here’s how it all went down:
GAME IN A WORD
Encouraging.
It has been just over eight months since Price made a start, but he was tremendous in his return. In addition, the bullpen preserved Price’s solid start a night after it blew a four-run cushion.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Devers drove the only run of the game in. With neither team being able to create many chances to score, it felt as though the side that got on the board first would win. After Xander Bogaerts started the seventh inning off with a double, the third baseman drove him in the next at-bat with a single up the middle.
ON THE BUMP
— Price was solid in his first start since July 22, 2017. He was efficient with his pitches, wasn’t afraid to attack hitters and his command was impeccable. Over his seven innings of scoreless work, Price allowed just four hits while striking out five and not allowing any walks. He only threw 76 pitches, 55 for strikes, and never threw more than 16 pitches in an inning.
The southpaw went 3 1/3 innings before allowing a hit. But singles in the fourth from Kevin Kiermaier and later C.J. Cron put Price in a slight two-out jam with runners on first and second and Wilson Ramos at the plate. Price got Ramos to fly out to right, however, exiting the frame unscathed.
The 32-year-old allowed a leadoff single in the fifth to Brad Miller, but got out of the inning two batters later by forcing Daniel Robertson into a double play.
Price cruised through the sixth and seventh, and was greeted with plenty of hugs and handshakes upon his return to the dugout after his final inning.
— Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth. He issued a one-out walk to Denard Span but proceeded to get the next two hitters out.
— Craig Kimbrel was in midseason form, earning the save while striking out the side in order in the ninth.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Bogaerts had a pair of doubles, while Hanley Ramirez also contributed two hits.
— Devers had the game’s only RBI with his one hit. Eduardo Nunez and Christian Vazquez also recorded singles.
— Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and Jackie Bradley Jr. all went hitless.
TWEET OF THE DAY
The caption says it all.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Rays will meet again Saturday in the third contest of their four-game series. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 6:10 p.m. ET.
