Price got the ball in the top of the first inning and Ketel Marte grounded out to third to start. Franklin Gutierrez whiffed on a nasty changeup down and away but Robinson Cano ripped a base hit to right. Nelson Cruz took a 94 mph fastball on the outside corner to end the inning. Taijuan Walker got the start for Seattle and Mr. Mookie Betts hit a single up the middle to begin. Betts was thrown out at second trying to steal and Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third, but Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. Bogaerts swiped second but David Ortiz whiffed on a high fastball to end the inning.
Dae-Ho Lee singled to left to start the top of the second but Kyle Seager popped up to left. Chris Iannetta banged into a double play to end the inning. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to third to start the bottom of the second before Jackie Bradley Jr took advantage of a missed foul pop up on the infield to dump a single to center. Chris Young missed a home run by 20 feet before lashing a hanging slider into the corner for a double. Travis Shaw was frozen for strike three on the inside corner and Christian Vazquez lined out to a running Gutierrez to end the inning.
Leonys Martin hit a routine pop up to Mr. Mookie that he lost in the sun, having to run to make the catch to start the top of the third. Shawn O'Malley hit one up the elevator shaft before Marte watched strike three go by to end the inning. Mr. Mookie hit another roller up the middle for a single to start the bottom of the third before moving to third on the base hit to center by Pedroia. Bogaerts popped up to center and Ortiz banged into a double play to end the inning, so much for that rally.
The Mariners struck first in the top of the fourth as Gutierrez wrapped a home run around the Pesky Pole to start. Cano hit a cue shot single off the third base barrier but Cruz banged into a double play. Lee grounded out to third to end the inning but the Mariners were up 1-0.
The Sox looked to rally in the bottom of the fourth as Hanley hit a roller up the middle but JBJ hit a mile high pop up to Marte. Young popped up to Cano and Shaw popped up to Seager to end the inning.
Seager popped up to Young in foul territory to start the top of the fifth before Iannetta watched strike three go by. Martin dumped a base hit to right but O'Malley grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Vazquez popped up to short to start. Mr. Mookie thought he had taken ball four but was actually rung up for strike three and Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning.
Price needed one pitch to get Marte to line out to short to start the top of the sixth. Gutierrez lined a base hit past the diving Bogaerts but Cano popped up to center. Cruz lined a base hit to right but Lee grounded out to second to end the inning. Vidal Nuno the 3rd came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and the Sox got to him. Bogaerts led off with a base hit to left and motored to third on the hit to center by Ortiz. Ramirez beat out a double play ball to score Bogaerts with the tying run. Hanley got foolishly picked off before JBJ got plunked to chase Nuno. Edwin Diaz came in and Young singled to left. Shaw walked to load the bases but Marte made a great diving catch to rob Vazquez of a hit to end the inning with the score tied 1-1.
Seager hit a shot off the Monster for a single to start the top of the seventh but Iannetta took strike three. Martin popped up to second and O'Malley grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the seventh when Mr. Mookie launched his 15th home run of the season into the Monster Seats to give the Sox the lead. Pedroia grounded out to third but Bogaerts took strike three. Ortiz was intentionally walked and lit up the crowd by stealing second. Ramirez popped up to Cano to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Price came back for the top of the eighth and Marte grounded out to third to start. Gutierrez was frozen for strike three on the outside corner and Cano struck out swinging to end the inning.
Nick Vincent came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and JBJ led off with a triple off the centerfield wall. Young was rung up for strike three but Shaw was intentionally walked. Vazquez popped up a bunt to first and Mr. Mookie grounded out to first to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel took the mound for the top of the ninth to close out the game. Cruz swung and missed at three straight curveballs but Adam Lind pinch hit for Lee. Lind also whiffed on a curveball and Kimbrel blew away Seager with a 98 mph fastball to end the game. The Sox had won it 2-1.
Hero of the Night is David Price. He was outstanding by tossing 8 innings of 1 run ball.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 5 with a home run.
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and a run scored.
David Ortiz was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch.
Chris Young was 2 for 4.
Travis Shaw walked twice in four plate appearances.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 16th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
THAT'S the David Price fans were expecting when the Sox signed him in the off-season. If he and Rick Porcello can pitch like this the rest of the season, the Sox may have a shot at the playoffs. With Toronto and Baltimore duking it out right now, the Sox need every win they can get. They didn't get much done offensively today but Price was there to pick up the slack. The Sox are a month away from the trade deadline and apart from another reliever, they could be all set if Steven Wright, Porcello and Price keep up the pace and Clay Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez ever get their heads on right. The win improved the Sox to 39-29, 1 game behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Chicago White Sox come to town for a set beginning tomorrow night. Steven Wright goes for the Red Sox up against Miguel Gonzalez of the White Sox. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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