Pena, Price lead Rays over Phils in 1st game of DH
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Price knew he had to be on against Philadelphia's Cole Hamels. He was — good enough to get his AL-leading 10th win of the season.
Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, Price and the Tampa Bay Rays over the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Sunday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
"I try to treat every start the same but whenever you're facing somebody who is one of their top guys, it definitely heightens your sense of awareness," Price said. "You know you can't go six and give up three."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Price (10-4) became the first AL pitcher to reach 10 wins this season. He went seven innings and gave up four hits, including Jimmy Rollins' homer in the sixth.
"David was outstanding, really, really good," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "That's a great day's work."
Hamels pitched three-hit ball for seven shutout innings in his first appearance against the Rays since he was the MVP of the 2008 World Series.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pena put the Rays ahead when he connected off Antonio Bastardo (2-2) for his 10th home run.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel became testy with the media when questioned about lifting Hamels for Bastardo, as well as explaining his late-game pinch-hitting decisions.
"That's our eighth inning guy," Manuel said of Bastardo. "I think right now, what you see is the pitchers that we have. That's the ones that we have in our minor leagues and up here. That's what it is."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"You guys ought to sit in the dugout with me and give me all the scenarios," Manuel added. "I don't think we know them. I mean, we don't know how to manage the game. Like really, I think you should sit down there with us or tweet us (strategy) or something."
A duel between two of the top left-handers in the major leagues shaped up from the start. Price trailed 1-0 before the Rays rallied.
Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances. Rollins reached second base with two outs after a single and stolen base, but Rodney struck out Hunter Pence swinging to end the game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rollins had three hits and Pence had a pair of doubles for the Phillies, who are 6-14 this month.
Hamels was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay in 2008 when the Phillies won their title. He pitched even better on Sunday.
Hamels was perfect until walking B.J. Upton to lead off the fourth. After striking out Pena, Hamels surrendered his first hit to Jeff Keppinger — the play was originally ruled an error on third baseman Hector Luna and later changed to an infield single.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hideki Matsui followed with a clean single to center and the bases were loaded when Ben Zobrist walked. But Hamels got Sean Rodriguez to fly out and end the 33-pitch inning.
Price retired 11 straight batters until hitting John Mayberry Jr. with a pitch with one out in the fifth.
Rollins opened the sixth by hitting a changeup to left field for his third homer in three games. Rollins slumped in April (.235) and May (.241) but raised his June average to .333.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bastardo entered in the eighth in relief of Hamels and walked two of the first three batters he faced. Pena hit the first pitch over the fence in right field.
"You just listen to your manager and go with their decision," said Hamels, who threw 111 pitches. "When you go out there, ultimately the pitch count is a factor in this day and age. And when you reach a certain point in the pitch count, they don't want to stress anything on your arm."
Rollins had three hits and Pence had a pair of doubles for the Phillies, who are 6-14 this month.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's hard for us to have a winning streak because of our pitching," Manuel said. "At the same time, we're weak in other areas too. That's what I see."
The Phillies got a run back in the bottom half on Ty Wigginton's RBI single off Burke Badenhop. Philadelphia had a chance to go in front with the bases loaded and two outs, but left-hander Jake McGee came on and got Michael Martinez to fly out to short right field.
The nightcap originally was scheduled for Friday, but was postponed due to heavy rain, wind and lightning after a 2-hour, 48-minute delay.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NOTES: Jim Thome, pinch-hitting for the Phillies in the eighth, was intentionally walked to tie Mickey Mantle for seventh place on the career list with 1,733 walks. ... Hamels fanned seven to tie Hall of Famer Jim Bunning for sixth place on the Phillies' career strikeout list with 1,197. ... The Phillies recalled RHP B.J. Rosenberg from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the game and Tampa Bay recalled LHP Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham. Both were recalled due to a new rule allowing teams to add an extra player for doubleheaders. .... The Rays open a three-game series at Kansas City on Monday night with RHP Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82 ERA) scheduled to face Royals RHP Luke Hochevar (4-7, 5.65). ... Philadelphia hosts the Pirates on Monday night for the first of four when RHP Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04) faces LHP Erik Bedard (4-7, 4.13).