Price carries Fall Classic glow into spring

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The last time David Price pitched in a game before Tuesday's 4-3 Red Sox loss to the Tigers, he experienced a moment so triumphant and joyful that it helped create the serene atmosphere he has enjoyed this spring.

On that unforgettable night of Oct. 28, Price stifled the Dodgers on short rest and helped pitch the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series championship.

That was the night a familiar old storyline -- that the lefty habitually wilted in October -- was put to bed for good. In fact, Price closed out the postseason winning his last three starts after being unable to win his previous 11.

Backed by that sweet change of narrative, Price returned to the mound for his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday, and he got what he needed out of it, going three innings.

"Excellent," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "Velocity, command, presence on the mound. He looked good for the first one. I think he ran out of gas at the end. Hot day, whatever. First outing. The stuff was sharp both sides of the plate. The changeup was good. Yeah, that was a good one."

Price gave up two runs on two hits and two walks, and he struck out four. All the damage was on a two-run homer by Jordy Mercer in the third.

The linescore didn't really matter much. The game was a necessary step for Price, who now can just spend his Spring Training focusing and talking about pitching instead of all the subplots that existed in the past.

How was the offseason for Price?

"It was good, just didn't think about anything negative,” Price said. "Just to be able to end on a good note the way that we did, that was different from every other offseason I've ever had."

And this Spring Training isn't like any Price has ever had. Last year, Cora held his starters back until roughly halfway through the Grapefruit League schedule. Then, his motive was to keep his starters strong for when it counted most, as he expected his team to be playing deep into October.

This time around, Cora expects the same thing, and his slower schedule is meant to help his pitchers recover from the extensive workload they had last October.

At age 33, and with 1,922 1/3 regular-season innings under his belt, Price doesn't mind.

"Yeah, it gives us a chance to, I guess, not try to push the envelope too much before camp starts," Price said. "Those first two weeks, when Spring Training is really a shock to your system, to be able to go through that, to get your feet under you, I think it helps."

And unlike last year, when he was coming off left elbow woes from 2017, Price has no health issues.

Entering his fourth season with the Red Sox, this is by far the most settled Price has ever seemed in Spring Training.

"I've felt good all of Spring Training this year," Price said. "And that's new for me, so I enjoy that."

In less than a month, Price will have something shiny to enjoy when he collects his first World Series ring. Until then, he will enjoy his stress-free spring and get ready to help the Red Sox when it counts.

Cora hasn't unveiled his rotation to start the season, but nobody will be surprised if Price takes the ball on March 29, in the second game at Seattle.

"Last year was a good ending for us and myself as well, and I'm just looking to build on that," Price said.