Sox poor ’pen lets down Price

It’s a good thing this wasn’t a meaningful game in the American League East standings.

It still counts, and it’ll go down as a loss for the Red Sox, 6-3 to the defending World Series champion Hous- ton Astros last night at Fenway Park.

This was a game that should leave baseball fans drooling at the idea of a ’Stros-Sox matchup in the AL Championship Series, while also reminding Sox manager Alex Cora to keep pondering his bullpen preferences.

There’s still a lot to figure out before October.

David Price was as intimidating as he’s ever been in a Red Sox uniform, but Cora took him out after 101 pitches in the seventh inning.

Ryan Brasier did Price no help as Houston scored three times in the seventh to claim the lead. After the Sox got even at 3-3, Houston plated three more off fireballing Joe Kelly in the eighth.

The Sox bullpen is good, but beatable. And has been all year.

Price started to look tired in the seventh, and gave up a hit to Alex Bregman, one of the best in baseball against lefties. After Price issued a walk to Tyler White, Cora took out his starter.

Six times in his last 15 starts Price threw more than 101 pitches, and he was on eight days rest coming into this start. The extra rest came as he was pushed back due to soreness related to the line drive that hit him in the wrist last week.

Brasier took the hill and on the very first pitch gave up an RBI double to Yuli Gurriel, chopping the Sox’ lead to 2-1. Two batters later, the light-hitting Tony Kemp stroked a double down the left-field line and the Astros took a 3-2 lead. Brasier has an impressive 1.75 ERA on the year but has allowed at least one run in three of his last six outings.

Cora and the Sox need to find out who they can trust most in that ’pen, and Brasier has worked his way into the late innings on merit. He deserved the chance. But this time of year, good offenses are going to get hits against any ordinary bullpen, which is what the Sox have.

Price’s strong start was encouraging. He spotted everything on the corners and had the Astros completely fooled. Seven of his 10 strikeouts were looking and they collected just two hits.

Since Sandy Leon took over calling the pitches for Price on July 12, he has a 2.04 ERA in nine starts. The Sox hadn’t lost with Price on the mound in nine games before last night.

The Sox scored twice against Houston starter Gerrit Cole, including Xander Bogaerts mammoth solo shot in the fourth.