Rays Game 97: It Is Awfully Hard To Beat David Price

As they decide what to do at the trade deadline, every series counts more than ever for the Tampa Bay Rays. After their series win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, they can exhale for a short while as the All-Star Break begins.

David Price is doing everything he can to keep the Rays in the race and himself on the team. In this game, he went 8+ innings allowing no runs on 5 hits, striking out 5 while walking 1. He was not quite as overpowering as we’ve seen him as he struggled to find a feel for his secondary pitches all game. However, he was able to pound the zone with his fastball to force weak contact both in the ground and in the air. Then Jake McGee returned from paternity leave for his 7th save, striking out two on his way to retiring all three hitters he faced.

Entering the game, Price’s run support was probably a bigger question than how he would perform, but the offense lived up to the task. It was two-out hitting that led to two of the three runs, with Logan Forsythe and Jose Molina both delivering RBI singles. Molina’s hit needed the help of replay as Yunel Escobar was originally called out before the call was overturned. Evan Longoria added an insurance run with a 7th-inning sac fly to cap a 1-for-3 day. The Rays managed just 6 hits in the game, but in sharp contrast to what we saw from them earlier in the season, they scratched runs across and made sure that Price’s performance did not go to waste.

David Price will not be available for the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but he certainly validated his selection as he came through with yet another gem. The Rays will next play on Friday at 8:10 PM as they start a three-game set at Target Field against the Minnesota Twins.