Yankees still own new pop Price

David Price became father to a baby girl this weekend, but the Yankees remain his daddy.

At least that’s the message the sellout crowd of 47,267 sent the southpaw Sunday night as the AL East leaders hammered Price yet again in The Bronx to close out a four-game sweep with a commanding 7-4 victory over the skidding Red Sox.

“Who’s your daddy, who’s your daddy,” — the same derisive chant aimed at Pedro Martinez years ago — could be heard several times during Price’s rocky 2 2/3-inning effort, and for good reason. The five-time All-Star was blistered for nine hits, seven for extra bases, and seven earned runs as the Red Sox lost their eighth straight game and fell a whopping 14 ¹/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. In eight starts with the Red Sox against the Yankees, he’s pitched to a 9.61 ERA, allowing 16 homers and 67 hits over 39 ¹/3 innings.

“I’ve faced them a lot, I’ve just got to learn something different,” he said, when asked about his struggles against the Yankees. “It’s a good hitting team. They put the ball in play, they hit it hard. They make it tough on me.”

Price got to New York late Saturday night after spending three days with his wife Tiffany for the birth of their second child. He maintained his absence didn’t affect his performance and there were never any doubts about taking the ball.

“I wasn’t going to miss this start,” Price said.

Of course, Price hasn’t pitched well at all of late. The Red Sox lost each of his four previous starts and his ERA was a ghastly 6.52. His last time out, Price lasted only 4 ¹/3 innings and gave up nine hits and four runs in a loss to the Rays. His ERA now sits at 4.36 as he fell to 7-5 on the season.

After giving up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the first, Price seemed to find his footing. He worked around a Kyle Higashioka double in the second and recorded two outs with just a runner on first in the third.

But then everything fell apart. Seven straight Yankees reached base. By the time the carnage was over, his night was finished, and the Yankees had pushed six runs across the plate. The crowd serenaded him with a mock standing ovation as he walked off the mound, a fitting end to the brutal weekend.

Just eight days ago, the Red Sox were only eight games behind the Yankees, but they haven’t won since, and now sit 6 ¹/2 games out of the AL’s second wild card.

“Overall,” manager Alex Cora said, “a horrible week.”