Cora sticking with David Price for Game 2
BOSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora is sticking with David Price, saying Wednesday the left-hander will start Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against Houston despite an unprecedented history of playoff struggles.
Speaking on MLB Network radio a day after the Red Sox eliminated the Yankees from the AL Division Series, Cora said he plans to use Chris Sale in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series that begins at Fenway Park on Saturday night. The first-year manager said Price, the loser in the Red Sox only defeat in the ALDS, is still in line to start Game 2.
“We trust him,” Cora said last week after Price allowed three runs and got just five outs in a 6-2 loss in Game 2. “He bounced back before. We’ll talk to him and make a few adjustments and we’ll go from there.”
Nathan Eovaldi and 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello are expected to start Games 3 and 4, after picking up wins in the same roles against the Yankees. The current Red Sox staff entered the series with a 0-19 postseason record as starters, and now everyone but Price has picked up a win. Price has won two games in relief.
In all, Price is 0-9 as a starter in the postseason and his team has lost all 10 of his career playoff starts, the longest such skid in postseason history. The latest was a fiveout cameo in Game 2 against the Yankees in which he gave up homers to Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.
But Cora expressed confidence in Price afterward, claiming that Astros ace Justin Verlander and Red Sox Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez also struggled in the playoffs early in their careers. He also noted that Price pitched well out of the bullpen last year, making two appearances with 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against Houston.
Verlander had a 5.57 ERA through his first eight playoff starts, but he won three of them; Martinez struggled in the 2003 and early in the 2004 postseason but had already posted a win in his playoff debut in 1998 and threw 18 shutout innings over three appearances in 1999.
Price said after his start he will pitch in any role that helps the team.
“I just want to win. That’s it,” Price said after his ALDS start. “My main goal is to win in the playoffs, to win a World Series. … And whatever I need to do to help us do that, I’m fine with. But I know I’m more than capable of winning games as a starter in October. That’s what I look forward to doing.” scoring freshmen. “We’re still underclassmen, but we’ve got to carry some responsibility for the offense and play some big minutes in the back.
The seniors include goalie Brett Magnus and Hamden’s Mike Lee, a defenseman who transferred from the University of Vermont but had to sit out last season.
“It’s been pretty hard, especially last year, sitting out and watching other guys play games,” Lee said. “I’m very excited to get back into it. My whole family’s coming to watch.”
No. 15 Northeastern comes in Friday and Saturday nights. Providence, No. 4 in one poll and one spot lower in the other, plays in Bridgeport on Oct. 20.
“That’s exactly what the plan was when we moved here, to help us attract better student-athletes, and to get programs to play us at home,” Marottolo said. “It’s the first time since I’ve been here for sure that we open with three home games in a row against quality teams, teams in the top 15 in the country right now. We’re usually playing those games on the road.”
The Pioneers have thrown in some standout wins against top teams in recent years, like when they played opening-night spoiler to top-ranked UMass Lowell in 2013, or last year’s 6-4 win at No. 5 Notre Dame.
“It’s nice to have some home games against some big-time schools,” Crocock said. “We’re prepared. I think we’re ready.”