Price hits 10 Ks for 5th straight start, lifts Rays over Pirates 5-1
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen dives but can't make the catch on a triple by Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Zobrist during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Wednesday, June 25, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (The Associated Press)
David Price struck out 11, becoming the first pitcher in 10 years to fan at least 10 in five straight starts, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday.
Price (6-7) gave up five hits and one walk in 8 1-3 innings, leaving the game after Andrew McCutchen's home run in the ninth. The last pitcher with five straight starts of 10 strikeouts was Minnesota's Johan Santana from June 20-July 11, 2004.
Price also set a franchise record for strikeouts in a month with 54. He went 2-3 in five June starts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ben Zobrist's RBI triple highlighted the Rays' three-run first inning off Charlie Morton. Desmond Jennings and James Loney had singles, and Kevin Kiermaier drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Morton (4-9) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings, giving up four hits.