During the late stages of Game 4 of the ALCS, Red Sox starter David Price began throwing in the Boston bullpen. Price, who started Game 2, was loosening as an insurance policy for manager Alex Cora amid closer Craig Kimbrel's latest tightwire, anxiety-inducing, blood-pressure raising attempt to close a game.
Kimbrel eventually worked himself out of the jam, with a lot of help from Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi, and Price did not have to enter the game.
Price joked after the game that he found something during his time pitching in the bullpen. Or at least, that's what people thought.
Whatever it was that Price found, it carried over to Game 5. Price threw six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits, walking none, and striking out nine.
It was the first time that Price has thrown six innings in a postseason start since 2015, and the first win he's recorded in 12 career postseason starts.
Price's big-game struggles have been well documented. The six scoreless innings lowered his career postseason ERA to a crooked 5.04. Since he joined the Red Sox, his ERA against the Yankees is 7.71.
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Price got off to a slow start in 2018, ranking 30th of 42 American League starters in first half ERA (4.42). But Cora stuck with him and he responded. Price lead the league in ERA (2.25) post All-Star break.
Whatever he found in the bullpen on Wednesday, it seemed to help Price get back to the same groove he settled into in the second half. With the playoff monkey off his back, the big lefty could become a huge weapon for the Red Sox in the their quest to win the World Series.
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