Starter David Price, who was seen only minutes earlier receiving attention from the Tampa Bay Rays training staff, has finished 6 innings, allowing no runs on 4 singles and 1 walk, while striking out 3. The injury, an apparent fingernail problem on his index finger, did not slow Price as he mowed through the Texas Rangers hitters in the fifth inning. But then, in the sixth, Price allowed a lead-off walk to Craig Gentry and then, one out later, surrendered an infield hit to Elvis Andrus.
Price managed to coax two subsequent ground outs to end the inning, himself making an impressive play on a high chopper from Josh Hamilton. He has made only 80 pitches through the first 6 innings.
Ironically, though the Rangers are touted for their powerful lineup, they have hit 2 infield singles today and 4 singles total, while the Rays have hit 6 homers to the Rangers' 1 for the series. Hopefully the surprising narrative fail continues for the Rays and they are able to steal a series from the Rangers potent offense.
In the bottom of the sixth, shortstop Reid Brignac worked a lead-off walk from Colby Lewis, but Lewis got Desmond Jennings to fly out and B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria to strike out to end the inning. Through 6, Lewis has thrown 93 pitches for 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, and the Jennings home run that remains the only score on the board.