What Alex Cora said about David Price’s performance in Game 2
"There isn’t going to be questions at spring training about David Price in October."
In his last two starts, both Red Sox wins, David Price has struck out 14 batters while limiting the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers to a combined six hits and two runs. The lefthander’s performance this fall has already made Alex Cora’s job next spring easier.
“I get it, the numbers and all that,” the Red Sox manager told reporters after Price won Game 2 of the World Series. “But this guy is a great pitcher. He’s been one of the best pitchers in the big leagues for a while. He cares. On a personal note, I’m very proud of him, very happy for him, that now he can keep pitching. Like he said the last time, you know, there isn’t going to be questions at spring training about David Price in October.”
Cora noted Price dealt the Astros an ALCS-clinching defeat in Houston, then beat the Dodgers at Fenway Park. The manager was happy for his starter because he “deserved it,” even if Price didn’t share that emotion when Cora kept him in the dugout for the seventh inning.
“He wasn’t happy when I took him out after the sixth, I’ll tell you that,” Cora said.
Price was locked in again against the Dodgers, striking out five in six innings as Boston took a 2-0 series lead. As the Red Sox head to California, Cora can take comfort in the knowledge that if disaster does strike in L.A., the series will still to return to Boston for Game 6.
“At least we know if things don’t go well in L.A., we’re coming back,” Cora said. “So that’s good. We played two good games. Today, tough one. They pitched well. We had some good at-bats. We pitched extremely well. David was amazing, and then the bullpen did what they’ve been doing during October, and now we’re up 2-0.”
Fenway Park was packed with 38,644 fans on Wednesday night. Cora acknowledged the Boston supporters after the game, noting that the players are plenty motivated by standing ovations during warmups.
“They were screaming and they were loud,” he said. “Sometimes we take them for granted, honestly. They showed up yesterday, they were amazing; they showed up today, they were great. I know there’s going to be a few people in Dodger Stadium cheering for us, too.”
