David Price, the first overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays after a remarkable career at Vanderbilt, closed out Game 7 of the American League Championship Series by recording the final four outs to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 3-1. The Rays, a perennial doormat of the AL East their entire existence, advanced to the World Series for the first time in their brief history. They will face the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rays had a 3-1 lead in the series and were seven outs from clinching in Boston with a 7-0 lead in Game 5. The Red Sox staged an amazing comeback, scoring eight runs to win and followed up by winning Game 6 in Tampa to force the series to seven games.
With that all in mind, Price's save was a nail-biter, with every fan at Tropicana Field on edge, many of them looking terrified with every pitch.
The 6-6 lefty entered the game and struck out Boston right fielder J.D. Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning, and then shrugged off a leadoff walk to strike out Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek before getting pinch hitter Jed Lowrie to ground out for the victory.
After the win was secured, Price threw down his glove and was bear-hugged by catcher Dioner Navarro before being wrestled to the ground by a mob of teammates.
Price, who recorded his first career major league save, got the win in Game 2 of the ALCS by recording two outs in the 11th inning and watching his team win it in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.
For the series, Price worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and allowed no hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Not a bad memory for your first season in the big leagues.
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