David Price was excellent Thursday in the Boston Red Sox’s home opener at Fenway Park, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out five over seven shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The performance didn’t earn Price the win — Boston’s offense didn’t provide the left-hander with any run support — but it earned him a standing ovation from the Fenway Faithful, something that once seemed outlandish given his tumultuous first two seasons with the Red Sox.
“That’s Fenway. That’s Boston,” Price told reporters after the game, which the Red Sox won 3-2 in extra innings after overcoming a two-run deficit in the ninth. “It doesn’t matter how many innings you go or what the weather is, the atmosphere is always going to be there. To get to play 81 home games, that’s something you don’t get to experience anywhere else.”
Price, who also hurled seven shutout innings against the Rays in his first start of the season last Friday, didn’t tip his cap upon exiting the mound after his seventh scoreless frame Thursday. It wasn’t because of any ill will or anything like that, though. Price just wasn’t sure whether his day was over.
“It was huge. To go out there and get 21 outs and not give up a run,” Price said. ” … I didn’t want to tip my cap because I didn’t want to take myself out of the game. I didn’t know if I was going to go back out for the eighth (inning). If I’d have been sure, I definitely would have tipped my cap, but I didn’t want to show (manager) Alex (Cora) that I was done.”
Cora ultimately turned to the bullpen after seven innings and 91 pitches from Price, who was limited to just 16 appearances (11 starts) last season. The move initially backfired, with Matt Duffy giving the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer in the eighth inning, but the Red Sox rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth and walked off with a victory in the 12th on an RBI single by Hanley Ramirez.
The Red Sox have started strong, winning six of their first seven games. Much of the success can be attributed to the rotation, which could be a force this season if Price stays healthy and keeps dealing.
