One bad inning enough to sink Price in Bronx

NEW YORK — David Price had a lead two batters into Sunday night’s game against the Yankees when Dustin Pedroia went deep for a solo shot against Masahiro Tanaka.

Price doesn’t think he should have needed any more in what turned into a 3-1 loss.

Price isn’t having his best season, but he still thinks he should be able to best the other team’s ace. And after Price signed a seven-year, $217 milllion contract in December, that’s what the expectations are from everyone around the Red Sox, including Price.

Though Price pitched well for most of the night, he lost his grip on the lead — and as it turned out, the ballgame — in a three-run fourth inning.

“Not executing, again,” said Price. “You guys are tired of hearing it and I’m tired of saying it. I’ve got to execute.”

There have been plenty of flashes of brilliance from Price, including the start that preceded this one, when he fired eight shutout innings against the Rays in his final start before the All-Star break.

But the overall body of work (9-7, 4.36 ERA) is less than what Price demands of himself.

“No, I’m definitely not satisfied,” said Price. “It was a bad fourth inning. Even when I was ahead, I couldn’t execute whatever pitch I was …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com