ARLINGTON, Texas -- In case you haven't noticed, the Yankees are one game in back of the Red Sox.
Alex Cora's team is now just 5-7 since their 17-2 start, allowing for an entirely different perception of what we're dealing with the American League East. No longer are these Red Sox the team that had built up so much good will that any sort of adversity was just a mild bump in the road. As uncomfortable as an early May defeat can make a first-place club, the 11-5 loss to the Rangers was right up there. (For a complete recap, click here.)
You could point to the sloppy defense (3 errors), or a bottom of the order that is really devaluing Mookie Betts' presence at the top of the lineup. But the chief discomfort in this one stemmed from one player -- David Price.
Price continued his trend of not turning in the kind of start the Red Sox really need him to turn in. This time he allowed a season-high nine runs, the second-highest total of his career. But unlike the last time he managed that feat it came in 6 2/3 innings back in 2013. This one took just 3 2/3 frames.
It was not what the Red Sox needed.
Price now has an 8.22 ERA over his last five starts after cruising through his first two 2018 appearances. One could point to the lefty's issues at Globe Life Park, where he now has a 7.42 ERA in nine career starts. But that shouldn't be the focus here.
This is a player who said he relished the classification as one of the Red Sox' most important players. Well, for better or worse, that designation isn't going anywhere.
"I felt like my first … four out of my first five, with the exception of the Yankee game, I felt like I commanded the baseball really well on both sides of the plate, fastball, cutter, changeup," Price said. "That was what I did really well. And in my last two starts, I have not commanded the baseball the way that I did in my four out of those first five. That's something I take a lot of pride in doing and I haven't done that in my last couple and I expect it to be there my next start."
Price's fastball velocity only averaged 92.8 mph, but more importantly he wasn't able to put it where he wanted, when he needed to. And the swings and misses weren't there, totaling just two on the hard stuff the entire night.
If the pitcher is truly healthy, there can be a turnaround. But the reality of the division isn't going anywhere. The Red Sox need Price to be a difference-maker. The likes of which CC Sabathia has become for New York. I guess we'll find out which difference he will make Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
With Betts' solo homer in the third inning, he now has a major league-leading 12 on the season. At the time of the homer, he had homered in four of his previous five plate appearances. He is now 9-for-15 with four home runs and eight RBI in his last five games.
