No experience, no problem for Rays LHP Price

Oct 24, 2008 - 10:09 AM By Ed Kacik PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Saying David Price lacks experience is a vast understatement. That isn't stopping the highly touted rookie from proving that it doesn't take a veteran to succeed in October.

The Tampa Bay Rays' lefthander closed out the final 2 1/3 innings of Thursday's Game Two, helping his team earn a 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies and even the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

Price surrendered two runs - one earned - and two hits, walking one and striking out two in the longest relief outing to finish up a World Series win since Brian Anderson of the Cleveland Indians pitched three innings to register the save in Game Four of the 1997 "Fall Classic."

The 23-year-old successfully navigated the gauntlet of Philadelphia's top hitters, as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went a combined 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in the final three innings.

"(Pitching coach Jim Hickey) said I just have to slow everything down; he told me to tone it down a couple of notches," Price said.

He surrendered a pinch-hit solo homer to Eric Bruntlett in the eighth before Carlos Ruiz doubled to leadoff the ninth and scored two batters later when rookie third baseman Evan Longoria booted Jayson Werth's ground ball.

But, Price struck out Utley before getting Howard, who led the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBI, to ground out weakly to second base.

Not bad for a guy who had to keep his knees from knocking together on the mound.

"I was nervous, very," Price said. "I usually don't even sweat out there, and my hat looks like I went swimming in it."

The performance is surprising for a pitcher that didn't get his first dose of the big leagues until mid-September.

Despite going 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 133 1/3 innings in his junior season at Vanderbilt, the Rays decided to have Price start his career in the minors after taking him first overall in the 2007 draft.

The 6-6 lefty breezed through the farm system in 2008, combining for a 12-1 record and 2.30 ERA in 19 total starts at all three levels.

His dominance earned him a late-season callup and a pair of starts. In five appearances, Price allowed four runs - three earned - and struck out 12 in 14 innings, impressing enough to be included on the playoff roster.

"I think the American League East better be ready," Rays designated hitter Cliff Floyd said. "He's going to be something to contend with. Ice in his veins, man."

Price was not used in the Division Series against the Chicago White Sox and made his playoff debut in Game One of the American League Championship Series, striking out Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury to end the top of the ninth inning as the Rays suffered a 2-0 loss.

He was back on the mound the next night and recorded the final two outs of the 11th inning, earning his first major-league victory as the Rays outlasted the Red Sox for a 9-8 triumph.

Now with his team's full confidence, Price was chosen to get the final four outs of the ALCS. He recorded them in order, two by strikeouts, earning his first save and pushing Tampa Bay to their first World Series.

Rays manager Joe Maddon continued to believe in Price in Game Two, turning to him with Ruiz on second and Utley and Howard due up in the seventh. Price walked Utley, but got Howard to look at a called third strike to end the threat and preserve a 4-0 lead.

"Just make good pitches, you know?" Price said of facing Howard. "He's human, just like everybody else out there. He doesn't have any superpowers. So just make the pitch, keep the ball down, because he can definitely hit it over the fence."