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Cora defends Price from media criticism after Game 5 gem

Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is sticking up for his starter.

Hours after David Price threw a Game 5 gem to clinch the ALCS, Boston's skipper addressed media criticism over his left-hander's postseason history.

"I was saying today that - I don't want to pick battles with the media, but I heard somebody today on TV just blasting David," Cora said after the Red Sox finished off the Houston Astros with a 4-1 victory, according to Chris Mason of The Eagle-Tribune. "Blasting him, calling him the worst pitcher in the postseason. Yeah, the numbers are there, I know, but he was saying this - he didn't hesitate. 'It was a bad matchup, one of the greatest against the worst,' and all that."

Price has notoriously struggled in the playoffs, but he tossed six shutout innings Thursday, silencing the Astros' vaunted lineup and his long line of critics. The performance earned Price his first postseason win as a starter.

"It was embarrassing the way they were talking about David Price," Cora added. "I was offended by that. Now, whoever said it, I think he works for WFAN or whatever, you know what? David Price is one of the best pitchers in the big leagues, and he actually should apologize to him."

Cora didn't name the person who irked him, but said he saw the segment on MLB Network. WFAN host Evan Roberts appeared on MLB Network earlier in the day.

"I don't listen too much to what's going on outside, but that one got me," said Cora, who worked in the media as an ESPN analyst from 2013-16. "That one got me. And when he was throwing 94, and the changeups, whatever, I was thinking about that segment on MLB Network today. Probably the guy's going to blast me because I'm talking about him, whoever he is.

"But you know what? I'm happy that David showed up today. And tomorrow we can turn the page and move on to the World Series with David Price."

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