Boston Red Sox’s David Price pitches in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Red Sox plan to use Price, who is returning from the disabled list, out of the bullpen for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — David Price returned from a nearly two-month layoff by pitching two hitless innings for the Boston Red Sox in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner was activated Thursday and pitched for the first time since July 22 after being sidelined by left elbow inflammation. He struck out two in his first relief appearance since 2010.
Jake Odorizzi (9-8) gave up one hit in six innings and the Rays salvaged the finale of a three-game series. Jesus Sucre’s solo home run off Eduardo Rodriguez regained the lead for Tampa Bay in the sixth inning after Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the only hit off Odorizzi.
It was the sixth home run for Sucre and the 17th for Bradley.
Odorizzi took a no-hitter into the sixth, having given up only a first-inning walk to Dustin Pedroia. He had retired 14 straight when he walked Brock Holt to lead off the sixth. Bradley’s two-run homer followed on a 3-2 pitch, tying the game 2-2.
Rodriguez (5-6) took the loss for the Red Sox, who opened the day three games in front of the Yankees in the AL East.
