Game 75: David Price Joins 1,000 Strikeout Club in Rays 3-1 Loss

Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price became the newest member of the 1,000 strikeout club in the top of the second inning, striking out Chris Carter looking on the inside corner, but unfortunately, that’d be the happiest news of the day for the Rays as they’d fall in the second game of this long weekend series to the Houston Astros by a 3-1 final score.

Price was just short of phenomenal. He worked eight full innings of six hit baseball and struck out 12 men, which marks the fourth consecutive start in which Price has K’ed at least 10 batters. To begin the game, Price tried to establish his place on the outside, but failed to get calls. It didn’t phase him though, as he threw 81 of his 116 pitches for strikes.

The first runs of the game came on the only mistake Price made in the game. While Rays pitching was able to keep Astro rookie sensation George Springer at bay a weekend ago, he went loose tonight and did all of the damage, going yard (right below the party deck in left field, to be exact) in the third inning, bringing Jose Altuve across the plate with him. It was 2-0 for the rest of the game until the top of the ninth, when Juan Carlos Oviedo gave up a two out home run to Jonathan Villar to make the game 3-0.

For whatever reason, the Rays offense could not figure out Astro starter Jarred Cosart. Cosart went eight innings of shutout ball and quietly allowed six hits, and allowed his defense to do what they’re there to do, as he only struck out two. The Rays scored their first, and only, run of the ball game in the top of the ninth. Chad Qualls came into the game to try and close things out for Houston, but Evan Longoria reached on an error and James Loney singled to put two on with no out. Two batters later, Yunel Escobar delivered the only blow to the Astros, as he singled into right field to bring Loney across the plate.

The Rays and Astros will go back at it tomorrow for a 4:10 start, and it’s everyone’s favorite game of the year, as the teams will turn back the clock and wear their 1970’s inspired uniforms. Jake Odorizzi will take the bump to oppose Brad Peacock.