Price began his outing by getting Fransisco Lindor to line out to right to begin the top of the first. Things got scary when Mitch Moreland went crashing into a camera well trying to catch a foul ball. Yandy Diaz grounded out to short and Jose Ramirez took strike three to end the inning.
Adam Plutko got the start for Cleveland and as usual Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed to begin the game. Andrew Benintendi walked but Mitch Moreland singled. Unfortunately Moreland collapsed at first, had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded on an ambulance, headed to Mass General and was replaced by Blake Swihart. JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts struck out to end the inning but losing Moreland hurt.
Price continued to dazzle in the top of the second as pain in the ass Edwin Encarnacion grounded out to third to begin. Melky Cabrera whiffed and Brandon Guyer grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Brock "The Hitman" Holt flied out to right to begin. Eduardo Nunez whiffed and Sandy Leon popped up to third to end the inning.
Jason Kipnis began the top of the third with a ground out to second before Roberto Perez whiffed. Greg Allen singled and stole second but Lindor whiffed to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr singled to begin the bottom of the third but was erased on the Mr. Mookie force out. The incompetent Betts was thrown out trying to steal and Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning.
Price dominated the top of the fourth inning as Diaz flied out to right, Ramirez lined out to short and Encarnacion flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox failed to score in the bottom of the fourth as Swihart grounded out to first to begin. Martinez walked but Bogaerts flied out to right. Holt walked but Nunez lined out to center to end the inning.
Price was untouchable in the top of the fifth as Cabrera whiffed to start. Guyer popped up to second and Kipnis grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox absolutely exploded in the bottom of the fifth inning as Leon got the party started with a ground rule double. JBJ singled Leon to third but Mr. Mookie flied out to left. Benintendi walked to load the bases and Swihart doubled home both Leon and JBJ to give the Sox the lead. Martinez was intentionally walked to re-load the bases and that was it for Plutko who couldn't survive the third time through the order. Adam Cimber came in and Bogaerts greeted him with a double to score Benintendi and Swihart. For whatever reason Holt was intentionally walked to re-load the bases and Nunez made the Indians pay with yet another 2 run double. That was it for Cimber as Oliver Perez came in and got Leon to pop up to short and JBJ to strike out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.
More than enough cushion for Price in the top of the sixth as Perez grounded back to the mound to start. Allen whiffed and Lindor flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox tacked it on against Josh Tomlin in the bottom of the sixth as Mr. Mookie finally got a base hit. Benintendi flied out to center but Swihart singled Betts to third. Martinez lashed a single to score Betts with another run. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning but it was 7-0 Sox.
Diaz singled to start the top of the seventh and Price found that so offensive he got Ramirez to line out to third. Encarnacion singled but Diaz got doubled off second on a line drive by Cabrera to Bogaerts to end the inning. Leon grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the seventh before JBJ whiffed. Mr. Mookie singled again but Benintendi grounded out to short to end the inning.
Price came back for one more inning although he hit Guyer to begin the top of the eighth. Kipnis banged into a double play and Perez whiffed to end the inning. That was 8 shut-out frames by Price in a possible playoff preview, he was outstanding.
Erik Gonzalez took over for Ramirez to begin the bottom of the eighth and Swihart grounded out to first to begin. Martinez grounded out to short and Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning.
Tyler Thornburg had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and he allowed back to back singles by Allen and Lindor. Tyler managed to get Diaz to ground into a double play and Gonzalez to fly out to left to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-0 for their 90th win.
Hero of the Night is a no brainer. David Price earned his 14th win of the season with 8 shutout innings, allowing just 3 measly hits, walking none and striking out 7.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 1 before leaving the game.
Blake Swihart was 2 for 4 with 2 rbi's and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and a run scored.
Brock Holt was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Tyler Thornburg pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but drove in 2 runs and scored.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Now THIS was more like it. The Sox probably won't be facing this kind of pitching in the playoffs if they meet the Indians but getting a start like this out of Price is what they're going to need in October. Price was unhittable from start to finish and if he can throw the cutter on the outside like this, he'll be ready for the playoffs. His ERA since the All-Star break is 1.04 and if Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez come back healthy, the New York Yankees have no hope in catching the Sox down the stretch. The win improves the Sox to 90-39, 9.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. It should be noted the 2011 "best team evahhh" Red Sox that collapsed in September finished with 90 wins. The 2018 Red Sox have 90 wins on August 23rd. Tomorrow night the Sox venture to Tampa Bay for a 3 game set with the Rays. Once again the Rays have no idea who's going to start while the Sox counter with Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez (7-1, 2.74 ERA) at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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