By ,
Published January 13, 2015
David Price takes another shot at win No. 1 on Sunday when the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox conclude a four-game set at U.S. Cellular Field.
The American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner won 20 games a year ago, but is 0-2 to start this season with a 5.52 ERA. Tampa is also 0-5 in his starts this season.
"I know that he holds some very high standards for himself," said Rays skipper Joe Maddon. "I know, and I feel very comfortable saying, he's going to be good record-wise by the end of the season. The numbers are gonna be there."
Price's latest loss came on Tuesday against the New York Yankees, who reached the lefty for three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He did strike out five and did not walk a batter.
His struggles could continue on Sunday, as he is a mere 2-4 against Chicago with a 3.46 ERA in six starts.
Tampa picked up a win on Saturday, as Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer, and Desmond Jennings clubbed a solo shot to lift the Rays to a 10-4 victory. Kelly Johnson and James Loney each drove in a pair, while Jose Lobaton added one RBI for Tampa, which had dropped the first two games of the series.
Matt Moore (5-0) dazzled Chicago hitters over six frames, giving up just one run -- an Adam Dunn homer in the fourth -- on three hits while striking out nine.
Alexei Ramirez, Conor Gillaspie and Jordan Danks had one RBI apiece for the White Sox, who had a three-game winning streak stopped.
Gavin Floyd (0-4) lasted just 2 2/3 innings before exiting with a right elbow flexor muscle strain. He allowed two hits, including Zobrist's two-run blast.
"You just keep going, games are on the schedule and you find another guy," White Sox skipper Robin Ventura said of the injuries.
Hoping to deliver the White Sox a series win on Sunday will be righty Dylan Axelrod, who is 0-1 with a 3.80 ERA. Axelrod did not get a decision on Monday against Cleveland, but pitched well, as he allowed just a run and three hits in six innings of the 3-2 loss.
"He did a tremendous job," said catcher Hector Gimenez. "Every pitch I called he threw right where I wanted."
This will be his first start against the Rays.
The Rays lost four of seven matchups with the White Sox a year ago, dropping three of four at U.S. Cellular Field.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/price-tries-to-get-off-the-schneid-in-finale-with-chisox