Price leaves with arm issue
Allows four runs in one rough inning
David Price’s first start against the New York Yankees since last July ended after only one inning.
Price took the mound for the Red Sox last night having not allowed a run in 14 innings to start the year. But the Yankees knocked him around for four runs in the first inning and he never returned for the second.
Price walked off the mound after the first and appeared to be flexing his left forearm. Then he went straight into the tunnel and was followed by pitching coach Dana LeVangie and trainer Brad Pearson.
He was replaced by Bobby Poyner to start the second inning.
The Sox said Price left the game for precautionary reasons after he felt a sensation in his left hand.
Price returned to the dugout by the end of the 10-7 loss.
It was supposed to be a big year for Price after he missed the first two months of 2017 while recovering from a left elbow strain. He also experienced blister issues due to a split fingernail last June.
The Red Sox were counting on him as their No. 2 starter this year and took care of him in spring training, asking for less work between starts and holding Price, and other starters, to lower pitch counts.
Price threw just 76 and 91 pitches in his first two starts, respectively.
His fastball velocity averaged 93 mph during his first two starts and averaged 92 mph last night.
Price gave up a single to Brett Gardner and a walk to Aaron Judge to start the game, then left a 92-mph heater belt-high on the outside part of the plate for Giancarlo Stanton, who hammered it into the centerfield triangle for a two-run triple.
Two batters later, Gary Sanchez hit an 89-mph cutter left over the top part of the plate for a no-doubt home run to left field. It was Sanchez’ fifth career homer off Price.
The Sox are already two starters down as Drew Pomeranz and Steven Wright began the year on the disabled list. Hector Velazquez is expected to start Saturday while Pomeranz continues to rehab in Double-A Portland. Brian Johnson, who started in the second series but has since been in the bullpen, would likely replace Price if he were to miss time.
Velazquez threw 52⁄3 innings of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth game of the year but has been pitching out of the bullpen since then.
“Let’s see what happens today, hopefully everything goes accordingly to plan and we don’t have to use him but it looks like it’s going to be Velazquez on Saturday,” manager Alex Cora said before the game.
Benny to the bench
Just as Andrew Benintendi was starting to heat up, Cora took him out of the lineup.
Benintendi had reached base in seven straight games before getting the night off last night.
Cora said he usually decides at least four days in advance what his lineups will look like as he tries to map out enough rest to keep everyone fresh.
“I mean it’s not only the hot part of it, it’s the matchups, not only today but the upcoming matchups and trying to get other people hot, too,” Cora said. “We did it with Mookie Betts already. He hit a homer and didn’t play the next day. (Benintendi) had a good game yesterday and we did it today. We map it out, man.
“It’s not that we’re trying to rest guys most of the time and people are worried so much about rhythm, but at the same time there are certain guys in that dugout that they need to get their rhythm too and they’re important pieces of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
In Benintendi’s place, J.D. Martinez started as the left fielder, pushing Hanley Ramirez to the designated hitter spot and allowing Mitch Moreland to get into the lineup.
Benintendi began the season 0-for13 but has gone 7-for-21 with eight walks since. He’s leading the American League with 11 walks this season.
“He’s been putting good at-bats in the whole season,” Cora said. “His on-base percentage is .400 and that’s what we ask of our second hitter. Maybe later on (in the year hot streaks will matter), but now I’ll map it out and go from there.”
Benintendi was thrilled to get involved in the action on Tuesday.
“It was nice to get something going offensively,” he said. “Obviously I’ve just been working with (hitting coach Tim Hyers), trying to find little things going on. Hopefully I get something going.”
Keep it down
Rick Porcello goes into tonight’s start with a 2-0 record and 2.84 ERA to start the season.
Current Yankees have hit .242 with a .760 OPS off Porcello in his career. Giancarlo Stanton is 1-for-1 off him with a double and Aaron Judge is 1-for-10 with a homer.
“Just trying to keep the ball down,” Porcello said. “Obviously they both pose a huge challenge which is what makes their lineup so tough. And it’s not just those two guys. It’s Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and all the guys that follow up. Those guys make everyone else better and you have to be on your game with this lineup.”