PRICE EXORCISES PLAYOFF BOOGEYMAN
Hurler’s redemptive start pushes Boston to the World Series, writes Rob Longley.
HOUSTON It was an effort worthy of a career body of work tainted only by the vexing 10th month on the calendar.
But in a masterful, careerdefining, six-inning stretch of pitching Thursday, David Price became Mr. October for a night.
Not only did the crafty lefthander win as a playoff starter for the first time in an otherwise outstanding and accomplished career, the 33-year-old did so in dominant fashion to catapult his Boston Red Sox to the World Series.
The Price was right and then some Thursday in what was undoubtedly the biggest moment of his baseball life, a 4-1 victory that polished off a surprisingly easy 4-1 series triumph over the reigning World Series champs in the best-of-seven ALCS.
The win sends Boston to the World Series for the first time since 2013. It will begin at Fenway Park on Tuesday when the AL East champs face the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers-Milwaukee Brewers battle in the NLCS.
Riding excellent command of his fastball-change-up mix, Price was determined from the get-go as the Red Sox looked to sweep all three games in Houston.
Determined to finish off the Astros and match Houston’s ace Justin Verlander and equally driven to validate all those who believed in him throughout his career, Price was money from the start.
Through six brilliant innings, he allowed just three hits, never allowing more than one runner on the basepaths at any given time. He struck out nine batters and gained confidence with each one.
In a city that loves its sports stars and big-stage performanc- es, Thursday will long be remembered by the Boston faithful.
Each inning he bounded off the mound, Price did so with a little more enthusiasm, quietly pounding his chest, no doubt exhilarated by the validation of the faith he maintained in himself, a belief that he was capable of such a powerhouse performance at this time of year.
After the sixth ended with a strikeout of Jose Altuve and aware that his night was done, Price let loose with a yell, which could be heard through most corners of a quieted Minute Maid Park and was greeted by a hand slap from first-year manager Alex Cora.
That Price came up with the most memorable outing of his career on just three days’ rest only added to the moment. In many ways, his effort in the series clincher was emblematic of this Red Sox team, one that never flinched against a deep and confident Astros squad.
The Red Sox are now 5-0 on the road in these playoffs, a worthy extension to their 108-win regular season. Offence was at a premium early on against Verlander, but when J.D. Martinez rocked a solo homer in the third inning, you could almost sense the end was near for the 2017 World Series champions.
When a three-run Rafael Devers homer in the sixth chased Verlander, the confidence grew even more as Price’s teammates recognized the significance of the moment.
“We ran out of wins,” said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. “They outplayed us. They deserve this. You can talk about the David Price struggles all you want, that was a championshipcalibre performance.”
A man who never doubted in himself, the one who left the Blue Jays in 2015 for a sevenyear US$217-million deal, Price was the toast of the Champagne celebrations that rocked the visitors’ clubhouse when it was over. And rightfully so.
Often given a rough ride in Boston because of his postseason failings and his at-times brash defence of himself, Cora never lost faith in Price.
But when he fell to 0-for-11 in playoff starts, including a Game 2 outing when he didn’t make it out of the fourth inning (though the Red Sox ultimately won the game), there was a sense of exasperation outside of the Boston clubhouse.
Not from Price, however, nor those who had seen him at his best.
“I came here to win, period,” Price said after Game 2, resolute that he wasn’t done.
“I came here to win a World Series and to do it multiple times. I understand the narratives, I get that. But I’m not done.
“You can ask any of my teammates for the 10 years I’ve been in the big leagues, or coaches or anybody that’s been around me. All I want to do is win.”
THESE SOX ARE GOOD
It didn’t take long for Cora to become well-versed in the pressure of running a team in the demanding Boston sports market. Even as they were piling up 108 regular-season wins.
“We play in a city that sometimes winning is a relief and we’re not doing that,” Cora said.
“We really are enjoying the ride, the journey.”