David Price happy to take ‘baby steps’ in shaking postseason reputation

David Price did not pitch as well as he would have liked to on Sunday night, but he is not complaining. In fact, he is looking at it as a positive.

Price allowed four runs over 4.2 innings in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros and exited with a 5-4 lead. He was an out away from being in position to get his first career postseason win as a starter, but Alex Cora lifted him after he walked his second batter in the fifth. Matt Barnes got a strikeout to end the threat, and the Red Sox held on to win the game 7-5.

The victory marked the first time Price’s team won during a start he made in the postseason. That was a baby step for Price.

Price: ‘We won. That’s my first team win as a starter. If it’s baby steps it’s baby steps, but I’m very happy we won.’

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 15, 2018

Price does have two career postseason wins and a save, but those have come as a reliever. His 0-9 postseason record as a starter hovers over him. He didn’t quite do enough to get himself in the win column, but he did not enough to help his team earn the victory. That’s a good step in the right direction. He may have another opportunity to get things right later in the series.