Maybe cutting back on video games paid off for David Price.
The Boston Red Sox left-hander tossed a complete game on 95 pitches, flirting with a shutout against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Over the nine frames against the division-rival Orioles, Price allowed two runs on five hits without walking anyone while striking out eight.
With the Orioles down to their final strike, Manny Machado took a 1-2 cutter over the Green Monster for a two-run bomb, spoiling the shutout. Two pitches later, Price would retire Jonathan Schoop to finish the game. Had Machado not spoiled the shutout, Price would have qualified for a Maddux in Boston's 6-2 victory.
RECAP: Machado homers, drives in @andrewsusac as Red Sox beat the O’s in series opener. #Birdland
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 18, 2018
More: https://t.co/y5hUkGSNsN pic.twitter.com/WQvXaze1sA
A Maddux - coined by Jason Lukehart and named after Hall of Fame right-hander Greg Maddux - is a complete-game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches, a feat The Professor himself managed 13 times during his illustrious career.
Price, who started the 2018 campaign on a hot streak, was yanked from his first start of May after 3 2/3 with hand numbness. The 32-year-old would have his next start pushed back and was eventually diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, which some pundits attributed to Price's video-game hobby. While Price said he would cut back on video games, he and manager Alex Cora dismissed the notion that it caused his injury.
After the dominant start, Price owns a 4.38 ERA and 4.04 FIP on the season over 51 1/3 innings.
