GOODYEAR, Ariz. ā David Price felt a rush of nervous energy leading up to Monday. Acquired by the Dodgers last month from from Boston, he made his first spring training appearance for Los Angeles.
Price allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-2 loss to Cincinnati with three strikeouts and two walks.
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āItās been a while since I faced hitters wearing a different jersey,ā the 34-year-old left-hander said. āItās the first time Iāve been in a game in six, almost seven months. My legs were shaking out there. Itās just, if you love what you do youāre definitely going to have nerves. It was fun. I definitely enjoyed it, getting back out there.ā
A left wrist problem that required surgery to remove a cyst limited Price to 4 2/3 innings last August and September. He finished 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 22 starts, then was traded by the retooling Red Sox with outfielder Mookie Betts for prospects.
Price gave up a two-run single in the first to Jesse Winker. He reached 91 mph with his fastball and said he was happy about how he pitched.
āWasnāt missing in the middle of the plate,ā Price said after throwing 20 balls and 20 strikes. āWhen I did miss, it was a very small miss. Everything is getting there.ā
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said despite the location issues, Priceās fastball was coming out of his hand well.
The wrist surgery restored the feeling of warm blood flow to Priceās left hand. He admitted heās been dealing with a lack of feeling in his fingers since his time in Tampa Bay, Detroit, Toronto and Boston.
āI needed to get it fixed,ā Price said. āItās new for my hand to be warm.ā
The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner for Tampa Bay, Price joins a rotation headed by Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler,
āItās OK. This is a business, first and foremost,ā Price said. āI learned that probably when I was traded from Tampa. I was naive at the time, I thought I was going to be a Ray for life. ā¦ Teams are going in different routes now than what they used to. Some of it I understand and some of it I donāt.
āThereās no hard feelings on my part,ā Price added. āI donāt need any extra motivation. Any day I get to put on this uniform or any other uniform, thatās motivation enough for me.ā
Notes: OF Cody Bellinger was scratched from the lineup with side discomfort. The Dodgers have Tuesday off, and Roberts suggested heās in no rush to get Bellinger back in action for a night game Wednesday. ā¦ LHP Julio UrĆas, also expected to make the starting rotation, allowed two runs ā unearned ā over two-thirds of an inning in his first spring training appearance.
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