Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price went the distance, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits in a complete game and Evan Longoria has three hits including a two run homer run in the third inning to lead Tampa Bay over the Texas Rangers 4-2 in Game 163. Longoria was went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and RBI.
Price shut Texas down on 118 pitches and also picked off two Texas base runners. The reigning AL Cy Young winner had a 10.26 ERA in four previous starts at Rangers Ballpark.
“When you can get outs without throwing pitches that’s always huge,” Price said. “If I don’t get those two outs on the pickoff moves, I have to get the next guys out. It forces me to throw at least 10 more pitches.”
Tampa added a run in the ninth when Sam Fuld was at second base, when he took off for third base. Reliever Tanner Scheppers threw wildly to third base, allowing Fuld to score.
The Rays will now travel to Cleveland to play int Indians in a one game playoff on Wednesday. The winner of that game would move on to Boston for the ALDS against the Red Sox. Gametime Wednesday in Cleveland is 8:07 p.m. ET.
