David Price may have bigger problems than the Boston media.
The left-hander, who unleashed a profane tirade toward reporters following Wednesday’s game in The Bronx about how he is being treated, went out Thursday and got knocked around in the Yankees’ 9-1 win over the Red Sox.
On Wednesday, Price reportedly declined an interview from a Boston Herald reporter, saying, “Write whatever the [expletive] you want. Just write it. Whatever the [expletive] you want.”
Price also snapped at a Comcast SportsNet reporter, upset with a perceived slight about his cutting his media availability after he told the Boston Globe he would only speak following starts.
Then Price went out and gave up six runs in five innings Thursday, thanks mostly to a pair of homers by Gary Sanchez.
Asked if he was affected on the mound by Wednesday’s incidents, Price responded: “Absolutely not … It was not tough at all to focus today.”
But it was just his latest flop against the Yankees. Price entered the game with a 4.55 ERA versus the Yankees, the worst he has versus any team he has pitched more than 75 innings against in his career. Since the start of last season, Price has allowed at least five earned runs in all but one of his six starts against the Yankees.
“I’m just not making good enough pitches,” Price said. “I threw the ball well against those guys two years ago. I’ve definitely had my share of bad games against these guys. It’s a tough lineup to pitch against and I look forward to the next time I get to do it.”
He hasn’t pitched to the level expected since signing a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Red Sox before last season. He put up some of his worst numbers since his rookie season last year and continued his trend of pitching poorly in the playoffs, with another clunker in the ALDS against the Indians.
Price was replaced atop the rotation when the Red Sox traded for Chris Sale in the offseason.
On Thursday, he made just his third start of 2017 after being shut down with elbow soreness in spring training.
Perhaps his struggles led in part to Wednesday’s outburst that caught the eye of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.
Price didn’t back away from Wednesday’s actions following his outing.
“I stand behind [them],” Price said.
Before the game, Farrell said he would address the issue with Price.
“That’ll be handled,” the manager said of his spat with reporters. “There will be a follow-up. We would like all of our players to deal with you all, the media, with respect. And I can’t say he was not disrespectful.”