Lewis outpitches Price, Rangers beat Rays 4-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Price's late-season swoon carried over into October against a familiar nemesis.

The All-Star lefty took a shutout into the seventh inning, then coughed up a slim lead as the Texas Rangers rallied for four runs to beat Price and the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Monday in Game 3 of their AL division series.

"Just haven't got it done," Price said. "We need to win these games. ... This is the postseason. Winning is the only thing that matters."

Rookie outfielder Desmond Jennings hit two solo homers for the Rays, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-five matchup. Game 4 is Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

"We're fine," Price said. "No one is going to panic in this locker room."

Price was winless in six starts last month. He has never beaten the Rangers, including a pair of losses when Texas defeated Tampa Bay in last year's ALDS.

Counting the postseason, Price is 0-6 in nine starts against the Rangers.

Mike Napoli made the Rangers' first hit with a runner in scoring position count -- on their sixth opportunity in the game -- by hitting a two-run homer off Price during a four-run seventh that put Texas up 4-1.

"This is the year of the Napoli, man," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He is just hot."

Napoli had gone 3 for 13 with eight strikeouts against Price before his third career postseason homer.

Price departed later in the seventh after giving up a two-out single to Craig Gentry. After Brandon Gomes walked two in a row to load the bases, Josh Hamilton made it 4-1 with a two-run single off J.P. Howell.

"Disgust. I'm just really bad," Howell said. "That's it. It's a negative. All negative. But move on. The series isn't settled, so let's just roll on."

Price was charged with three runs and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Tampa Bay rookie Jeremy Hellickson and Texas left-hander Matt Harrison are the scheduled starters in Game 4. After a remarkable run to the playoffs, the Rays need to win to extend their season.

"Jeremy's ready to roll and win that game, and take it back to Texas," Maddon said.

Tampa Bay won the AL wild card after being nine games out of a postseason spot through Sept. 3. The Rays won the series opener 9-0 and had a 3-0 lead in Game 2 before the Rangers rallied at home to win 8-6.

The road team has won seven of the eight playoff games between these teams the past two years. Texas took their first-round series in five games last season.

Texas failed in three tries to get a hit with a runner on second through two. Price also came up big in the sixth by retiring Hamilton and Michael Young on consecutive grounders to work out of a two-on, one-out jam.

Hamilton (3 for 23) and Young (2 for 22) are a combined 5 for 45, including postseason games, against Price. The duo went hitless in six at-bats Monday against the lefty.

Texas right-hander Colby Lewis retired nine in a row before Jennings started the fourth with a homer.

Pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez pulled Tampa Bay within 4-2 on a bases-loaded RBI grounder in the seventh. Alexi Ogando then got a two-out grounder from pinch-hitter Sam Fuld with runners on second and third.

Darren Oliver started the seventh for Texas but was pulled after allowing three singles.

Jennings' second homer of the game, off Mike Adams, cut the deficit to 4-3 in the eighth.

"We never feel like we're out of a game, especially this close," Jennings said. "We feel we always have a chance until the last out is made."

B.J. Upton followed Jennings' leadoff shot with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second on a pitchout. After Adams walked Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce, Michael Gonzalez entered and struck out Johnny Damon.

"I feel real bad," Damon said. "The playoffs are not supposed to be easy. We're used to having our backs against the wall."

Rangers closer Neftali Feliz, after throwing a wild pitch that moved the runners up to second and third, then fanned Ben Zobrist to end the eighth.

The Rays had one hit in eight attempts with runners in scoring position.

"Too many missed opportunities," Damon said.

Feliz, who allowed Rodriguez's one-out single in the ninth, got his second save of the series. The right-hander induced a double-play grounder from Kelly Shoppach to end it.

Notes

• Jennings led off the first against Lewis by hitting a grounder to complete a 10-pitch at-bat. He is one of seven rookies to have a two-homer game in the postseason.
• Lewis allowed an AL-leading 38 home runs during the regular season.
• Napoli is the first catcher to have a homer, steal a base and throw out a baserunner attempting to steal in the same playoff game.
• Tampa Bay has seven homers through three playoff games this season.

Photo Gallery: ALDS Game 3

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