Rays Colored Glasses: Price is Right

April 18, 2011

v. Chicago White Sox

Attendance: 12,016

W: David Price (2-2) 2.83 ERA

L: Edwin Jackson (2-1) 3.51 ERA

Summary:

For the second time this year David Price and Edwin Jackson matched up. Price had never beaten the White Sox and all Jackson had done was dominate his former team including a thirteen strikeout masterpiece in his last start and a no-hitter last year in his last appearance at Tropicana Field. Price rectified things tonight.

The Rays took a rare first inning lead when Felipe Lopez singled home Sam Fuld. Ben Zobrist then homered to give the Rays a 3-0 lead. That was all Price would need. He was dominant over eight shutout innings. allowing only four hits, while striking out nine. He did get some help from his friends out in the field. Fuld made another spectacular play. So did Reid Brignac. I really liked Price’s intensity tonight. Price was actually angry at himself after striking out Carlos Quentin for leaving a slider in the middle of the plate.

Lopez homered, this time without incident, in the eighth to give the Rays a 5-0 lead. Joel Peralta closed out the game to give the Rays an impressive win.

Players of the Game: David Price and Felipe Lopez. I didn’t award a POG yesterday, so I’ll give out two today. Price led the shutout, while Lopez went three for four with a homer a three runs batted in.