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 Price, the former American League Cy Young Award winner, couldn't
have done much more, dominating his former Tampa Bay Rays teammates
in a one-hit complete game. The Detroit Tigers left-hander gave up
one unearned run, never got a three-ball count and retired the final
23 hitters in order.
"It's probably as good as I've pitched in a game that went my way,"
Price said.
But the emotional reunion didn't go Price's way. Rays right-hander
Alex Cobb outdueled Price in a 1-0 Tampa Bay victory in front of
19,189.
"99.99 percent of the time, you win that game," Tigers catcher Alex
Avila said. "Unfortunately, today was that .01 percent."
Cobb showed he was more than capable of taking over the Tampa Bay
ace role from Price, throwing seven two-hit innings. He has won
seven straight decisions, going 7-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last 10
starts.
"What can I say, man?" Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It really
lived up to the billing."
Price said his familiarity with the hitters helped him, making only
one mistake.
After a one-out throwing error by Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez
allowed right fielder Ben Zobrist to reach first, Price gave up an
RBI triple to rookie outfielder Brandon Guyer. Price said he threw
Guyer a back-door cutter.
"I shouldn't have thrown it," Price said.
The one-run cushion was enough for Cobb, who battled his way out of
a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh inning, extending his scoreless
streak to 15 1/3 innings. Rookie right fielder Kevin Kiermaier made
a diving catch to help preserve the lead in the eighth with the
tying run on second base.
"I was just happy to see that go in the glove right there,
especially in a big situation late in the game like that," Kiermaier
said. "It was a big relief."
Maddon said, "Big, big play by Kiermaier. It could've probably
turned the whole thing around."
Price, acquired three weeks ago in a three-team deal, preferred not
to pitch against Tampa Bay, where he spent his first seven
big-league seasons. He liked how his old walk-up song was played as
he took the mound but had to step back after the crowd gave him a
standing ovation as he warmed up before the first inning.
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"I appreciate it," he said.
The hard part was pitching to longtime friends.
"That was different," Price said. "First time through the lineup was
really weird. After that, I felt good."
With the win, the Rays (62-65) avoided a three-game sweep as they try to
keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive. They trail the Tigers by seven
games for the second American League wild card.
Detroit (68-57) fell 1 1/2 games behind the idle Kansas City Royals for
first place in the AL Central.
"Definitely, David deserved everything he got from the crowd and leading
up to the game with all the hype," Cobb said. "But once it became game
time, facts are we are streaking in the wrong direction a little bit and
we definitely needed a win to try to get back up to .500 and to be able
to compete for this wild-card spot come September."
Price said he enjoyed the three-game series with the Rays and was glad
he got the first meeting out of the way.
"Honestly, that was something I never thought I'd have to do, not
pitching against these guys in this ballpark or really pitching against
them at any time," Price said.
NOTES: Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (shoulder inflammation) threw a
35-pitch bullpen session Thursday and said he's ready to start during
Saturday's doubleheader. ... Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said RHP Bud
Farmer will be called up from Triple-A to pitch the other game Saturday.
... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera was the designated hitter as a precaution
after re-aggravating an old ankle injury Wednesday. Ausmus called it a
"small concern."... Rays manager Joe Maddon said C Jose Molina is banged
up a bit, otherwise he wanted to use all right-handed hitters against
LHP David Price, who was making his first start against his former team
since getting traded to Detroit at the deadline.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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