Red Sox News & Notes: David Price Can’t Deliver Against Yankees
The Boston Red Sox had their 11-game winning streak snapped in a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees.
The champagne will have to wait another night. Boston Red Sox ace David Price wasn’t able to deliver Tuesday night in the team’s 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees at Yankees Stadium.
Price, who has been solid as of late, gave up a two-run blast in the first inning. The homer by catcher Gary Sanchez set the tone for the night as the Yankees snapped Boston’s 11-game winning streak. Most importantly for New York, the victory delayed any chance of the Red Sox celebrating an AL East title in their home ballpark.
Overall, Price (17-9) has struggled against the Yankees. This season he is now 1-3 with a 7.89 ERA. In Tuesday night’s game, he gave up six runs and 12 hits, which was disappointing since the left-handed pitcher previously won eight-consecutive decisions.
However, Price did pitch the game with a heavy heart as the start came just days after he attended the funeral of one of his best friends, but maintained the emotion attached had nothing to do with his performance.
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“It was a tough couple of days, but I was with friends and family and that’s my foundation,” Price said. “Nothing had a factor on what happened tonight, for sure. To have a chance to clinch the division for us here, it’s unacceptable. If our offense scores four runs, I feel like I should be able to win.”
Overall, Price allowed three home runs, one of which coming an inning after the Red Sox tied the game 4-4.
In summary, David Price will simply have to do better in the playoffs.
A New York state of mind
Big Papi in New York: Red Sox DH David Ortiz started his final series in New York. Unfortunately, the 40-year-old slugger didn’t get off to a good start. He went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and was responsible for stranding seven runners on base.
However, Ortiz did have an opportunity to make up for his offensive struggles in the ninth. But he struck out with two on adding to a very tough night at the plate. He whiffed on a high, backdoor cutter delivered by Yankees reliever Tyler Clippard. It added to a very frustrating night that left Ortiz annoyed with himself and additionally at Sanchez, who made several trips to the mound during the at-bat.
“That ain’t fun,” Ortiz said after the game. “They tricked me tonight. Too much talking between pitcher and catcherr. I’ll trick them tomorrow.”
Magic number: Boston could still clinch the AL East without a victory Wednesday night. The Toronto Blue Jays are five games out with five games to play, so a Blue Jays loss would also clinch. With how the season has gone, Boston would love to handle their own business with a victory.
Call to the bullpen: Red Sox manager John Farrell had a chance to lift Price before the seventh inning. The manager explained after the game that if he made a pitching change, the Yankees would’ve countered by bringing either Brian McCann or Mark Teixeira in the game. Farrell wanted to keep right-handed batters Austin Romine and Tyler Austin in the game as they presented better matchups.
Champagne for Clay: Clay Buchholz (8-10) takes the mound for the Red Sox Wednesday night against Yankees right-hander Brian Mitchell (1-2). It would be quite the story if Buchholz was the pitcher to deliver the clinching victory.
Next: Al Horford Chose Boston to 'Be a Part of Something Special'
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