BOSTON (AP) — With help from a quick thunderstorm, the Red Sox had
David Price out of the game.
The problem was they didn't get a break on an umpire's admitted missed
call in a 2-1 loss to the Rays on Monday night.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, pinch-runner Daniel Nava was called
out at home by plate umpire Jerry Meals — even though replays clearly
showed and Meals said afterward — that Nava got under the tag of
catcher Jose Molina.
''No, there was no doubt. I knew I was safe. I wouldn't try and sell
it, if I — on replay you'd see that I was safe,'' said Nava. ''So I
knew that I was safe. Unfortunately, that was the situation, and
obviously that was the call, but at the same time, I probably should
have been there the at-bat before.''
Ryan Lavarnway doubled off the Green Monster against reliever Joel
Peralta, but Nava couldn't score when Stephen Drew's line drive went
over right fielder Wil Myers' head for a double. Nava then tagged on
Brandon Snyder's fly ball to short left-center. Nava and manager John
Farrell both argued, with Farrell getting ejected by Meals.
Meals spoke to a pool reporter after the game.
''What I saw was Molina blocked the plate and Nava's foot lifted,'' he
said. ''But in the replays, you could clearly see Nava's foot got
under for a split second and then lifted, so I was wrong on my
decision. From the angle I had, I did not see his foot get under
Molina's shin guard.''
Boston outfielder Shane Victorino said the decision hurt, but it's
part of the game.
''I wasn't bothering stopping him. He had every right to be upset,''
Victorino said when asked about Farrell's ejection. ''Again, the human
error is part of the game and that stuff happens. Sure it gets
frustrating, especially when you battle and you grind like that and
something like that happens. Sure you get frustrated, but we put
ourselves (in position) to win again in the bottom of the ninth.''
Price allowed just two hits over 7 1-3 innings to beat the Boston Red
Sox for the second time in six days, and Tampa Bay retook first place
in the AL East.
Price (6-5) was dominating the makeup game before it was delayed for
39 minutes because of a brief downpour that arrived as fans were
singing ''Sweet Caroline'' and he was warming up for the bottom of the
eighth. The Rays left-hander stayed in the game, but retired just one
batter — after starting him out with three straight balls — before
Peralta relieved him.
Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 26th save. He gave up a
leadoff single to Jacoby Ellsbury, who stole second with one out, and
walked David Ortiz with two outs. A 100 mph wild pitch moved the
runners to second and third but Mike Napoli struck out on a 3-2
changeup to end the game.
Felix Doubront (7-5) allowed two runs on eight hits and three walks,
striking out four in five innings.
Price pitched a five-hitter to beat the Red Sox on Wednesday and help
the Rays move a half-game back in the AL East behind Boston, which had
been in first since May 27. But the series finale was rained out on
Thursday, bringing the teams back to Boston for the makeup on Monday
night.
Before they could finish things up at Fenway Park for the season, the
Rays took over first place in the division on Friday and then gave it
back on Sunday.
Price allowed just Ortiz's double high off the Green Monster to lead
off the second inning and Snyder's 302-foot fly ball off the Pesky
Pole for a home run in the sixth. That was the only runner to get past
second base against Price, who walked none and struck out eight to win
for the fifth time in six starts since coming off the disabled list on
July 2.
The Rays led 2-0 after five on an RBI double from Sean Rodriguez and a
run-scoring fielder's choice by Myers.
NOTES: The Red Sox learned Ortiz won't be suspended for destroying the
phones in the Baltimore dugout with a bat after being ejected for
complaining about a pair of called strikes on Saturday. ... Doubront
has allowed three runs or fewer in 18 of 19 starts, including his last
14, the longest streak by a Red Sox LHP starter since at least 1920.
It matches the longest by a Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez in
2002.
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