De La Rosa falters in Fenway debut, Red Sox beat Rockies 8-3

BOSTON (AP) There was a time when Colorado Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa figured to be a regular on the mound at Fenway Park.

Now he's content to check it off the list and leave town.

A former Red Sox farmhand who was traded to Arizona in the deal that sent Curt Schilling to Boston, De La Rosa made his Fenway debut Tuesday night and couldn't make it out of the fourth inning in an 8-3 loss to Boston.

David Price scattered five hits over seven innings, and Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his major league-leading hitting streak to 28 games for the Red Sox.

In his first start since missing almost a month on the disabled list with a left groin strain, De La Rosa (1-4) allowed seven runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out one. He left with one out in the fourth with two on and one run already in.

''Still believe in myself,'' he said. ''I know I'm not pitching the way I want to. Still believe I can pitch better than I've been doing right now.''

Asked if he would remember pitching in the century-old ballpark, De La Rosa said with a laugh, ''I don't want to remember.''

Charlie Blackmon hit a solo homer and DJ LeMahieu had two hits for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

In a rematch of the 2007 World Series, which Boston swept in four games, Dustin Pedroia had three hits and Christian Vazquez hit his first career triple to help Boston win its third straight.

David Ortiz had a two-run double and a two-run single.

''These kids, they work extremely hard. They want to be good,'' the 40-year-old designated hitter said after twenty-somethings Bradley and Xander Bogaerts each had a pair of hits.

''I'm having so much fun watching it,'' the slugger added. ''They make me feel like I'm a part of it. ... They make me feel like I'm their age.''

Price (7-1) was spotted a 2-0 lead after one inning. Boston made it 4-1 after two and 7-2 in the fourth.

''To go out there, knowing you don't have to be perfect, it's huge,'' said Price, who allowed three runs, walked one and struck out six to earn his third consecutive win. ''At some point, we're going to struggle offensively. That's when the pitchers are going to have to come together.''

PAPI POPPING

When Ortiz came up in the eighth with one out and a runner on second, he was intentionally walked.

''He's a great hitter, one of the best of certainly our era here,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''You're just in a tough spot there when he comes up with guys on base.''

REVIEWS

The Rockies' first run came when Gerardo Parra tripled in the second. Ryan Raburn raced around from first and slid under Vazquez's tag; he was initially ruled out, but the play was overturned on review.

All of the Red Sox had left the field except Price.

The inning resumed and Dustin Garneau flied out to center field to end the inning for real.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Jason Motte (right shoulder strain) is back with the team, and Weiss said Motte will pitch Wednesday or Thursday. Motte went on the disabled list April 11 and made six rehab appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque.

Red Sox: RHP Carson Smith had Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the team said. Smith appeared in three games this year, pitching 2 2/3 innings and making two trips to the disabled list. ... 1B Hanley Ramirez was lifted after being hit in the right big toe with a pitch. X-rays were negative. ... LHP Eduardo Rodriguez made a rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket, striking out seven in seven innings and allowing one run on four hits.

UP NEXT

The teams play the second game of the three-game series Wednesday night. Colorado's Chad Bettis (4-2) will face knuckleballer Steven Wright (3-4).