David Price – Cy Young Candidacy Alive and Well
With a complete-game victory over the Boston Red Sox, David Price gave the Tampa Bay Rays a glimmer of hope for a wild-card bid in the American League, and strengthened his position to become the American League Cy Young Award winner. Price scattered seven hits and allowed two earned runs, while striking out 13 Red Sox batters. He did not walk a batter. Price needed 112 pitches for the complete-game victory. Price is now tied with fellow Cy Young contender, Los Angeles Angels Jered Weaver with 19 wins in the American League.
Clay Buchholz started for the Red Sox and gave up five runs, four earned and struck out five in the loss.
Jeff Keppinger hit a three-run home run in the second inning to back Price. The Red Sox quickly countered with a run in the second and a third innings. Danny Valencia singled in the second to score Cody Ross, and Daniel Nava scored on a balk by Price in the third inning. Tampa Bay would add insurance runs in the sixth inning on a base hit by José Molina which scored Keppinger. Carlos Pena also scored on an error on the play by Nava.
Tampa Bay is now 2 1/2 games out of the wild-card spot trailing Baltimore and Oakland. Los Angeles Angels are two games out pending the outcome of tonight’s games.
