While the news was not so good from the gridiron this weekend (MSU 17-Vandy 14), Black & Gold fans can be excited about the continued progress of one of its former baseball standouts.
In the American League Championship Series, Tampa Bay left handed pitcher David Price came on in relief in the top of 11th inning Saturday night (October 11) against the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Price came in with a man on first and one out. He walked the first batter he faced, but then stuck out the next man, and got a ground ball force out to get escape from of the jam.
His Tampa Bay Ray teammates responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to win the game 9-8 and square the best-of-seven series with the Red Sox at one game apiece as the two teams head to Boston for Game 3.
What a way for Price to win his first game in the Majors!
The ALCS win for Price is another major highlight of a season that has seen the rookie pitch on just about every level of baseball beginning with spring training and the instructional league, (where he recovered from a minor arm injury). Then it was on to Class A ball and then to the Double AAA and AAA leagues, where his pitching was so outstanding he was named Minor League Player of the Year.
Price's work also earned him a mid-September call-up to the big league club where he made his pro debut pitching 5+ innings of solid relief in Yankee Stadium. Price also later got his first start in the big leagues, registering a no decision in a game the Rays later won, and in which Price went nearly 5 innings before giving up a hit.
His performance earned him a spot on the post-season roster, which is fairly unusual since normally a player has to be with the major league team at the end of August to qualify.
His appearance in the ACLS Saturday night was his second of the series, having pitched a third of an inning in Game I in the ninth inning of a 2-0 Rays loss.
Price was the Number # 1 overall pick in the MLB draft in 2006 and everything he's done this season is showing that the Rays made the right decision because the Price is right!
But, facing the Red Sox in this season, is driving my wife, Betty Lee Love Nolan (another member of the Class of 1973) a bit crazy. As much as she wants David Price to succeed, she is a die-hard Red Soz fan of many years. Tough choices so sure, but how great it is to see a Vanderbilt player doing so well one of the greatest showcases in Major League Baseball.
1 comment:
Pat,
I thought letting the Red Sox win the World Series on her birthday against the CARDINALS! was enough for Betty Lee in this lifetime.
Let David Price and the TB Rays have a little love.
Just think of the Phillies and the Rays in the World Series with a grand total of one world championship between them! The last time that happened was in 1926, between the Yankees and the Cardinals! You could win a bar bet on that one.
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