Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of their baseball game in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO — David Price returned to the Boston Red Sox with another outstanding performance against Toronto Blue Jays.
The 33-year-old left-hander did not allow any earned runs over five innings in a 12-2 rout Monday that improved his record against the Blue Jays to 22-3, including 13-1 in 18 starts at Toronto.
Price (2-2) had not pitched since May 2 due to left elbow tendinitis. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked none.
Toronto scored twice in the second to tie the game after second baseman Michael Chavis allowed Billy McKinney’s two-hop grounder to bounce out of his glove for an error with one out. Richard Ureña grounded out and Luke Maile, who had been 0 for 7 against Price in his career, drove a fastball over the wall in left-center for his second homer this year.
Price then retired his final 10 batters.
Manager Alex Cora removed Price after just 67 pitches.
“Hasn’t pitched in a while, so just take care of him,” Cora. “Pitch count was low. The effort was great. The last two innings velocity-wise, location-wise was fun to watch.”
Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree, Ryan Brasier and Hector Velázquez combining for hitless relief.
Chavis, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers homered for Boston, which started a seven-day trip to Toronto and Houston. The World Series champions are 23-14 since a 2-8 start.
Bogaerts and Devers hit consecutive second-deck home runs in the ninth off Ryan Tepera, the third time the Red Sox have gone back-to-back this season. Bogaerts and Devers had three RBIs each.
Bogaerts hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in a four-run third that included Chavis’ ninth home run this season, a two-run drive. Bradley’s two-run homer in the sixth against Elvis Luciano boosted the lead to 8-2, Bradley’s first home run since Game 3 of the World Series and his first in the regular season since last Sept. 20.
“You see a bit of a glimpse of what we’re capable of,” Chavis said. “I wouldn’t even say we’re hot yet, but things are going the right way, for sure, and being part of those innings, it’s definitely something fun.”
UP NEXT — LHP Eduardo Rodríguez (4-2, 4.89), who takes the mound tonigh for the Red Sox, is 4-0 with a 3.46 ERA in his last seven starts, and hasn’t given up a home run in a career-best five straight starts. Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman (1-6, 2.95) is 4-3 with a 3.87 ERA in 12 starts against Boston.
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