ST. PETERSBURG -- David Price pitched like an ace in the Rays' 9-2 Opening Day win over the Blue Jays on Monday afternoon at Tropicana Field.Price, who did not pick up his first win of 2013 until his sixth start, got in gear early. With 31,042 watching, he retired the Blue Jays in order in the first, getting some assistance from center fielder Desmond Jennings, who made a diving catch of Jose Reyes' looping line drive for the game's first out.He set the Jays down in order in the second before effectively navigating choppy waters in the third and fourth.Colby Rasmus drew a walk to start the third and Maicer Izturis followed with a single. But Josh Thole grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, then Ryan Goins grounded out to first to end the inning. 
Price again got tough in the fourth when the Blue Jays had runners at the corners with two outs. This time the Rays left-hander fought Brett Lawrie in a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with Lawrie swinging at strike three.The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner got more efficient as the game progressed, using just six pitches in the fifth and seven in the seventh to hold the Blue Jays at bay.Pinch-hitter Erik Kratz finally broke Price's spell with a two-run homer in the eighth that cut the Rays' lead to 6-2. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in 7 1/3 innings.Tampa Bay's offense gave its ace plenty of support from the beginning.Wil Myers doubled to center off Toronto starter R.A. Dickey with one out in the first. One out later, Evan Longoria singled through the middle to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.Myers came through again in the second with a two-run single for a 3-0 lead. Matt Joyce then joined the hit show with a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. Jennings was the trail runner on Joyce's double and executed a unique slide at home to avoid the tag while minting the Rays' sixth run.Bill Chastain / MLB.com
Price again got tough in the fourth when the Blue Jays had runners at the corners with two outs. This time the Rays left-hander fought Brett Lawrie in a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with Lawrie swinging at strike three.The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner got more efficient as the game progressed, using just six pitches in the fifth and seven in the seventh to hold the Blue Jays at bay.Pinch-hitter Erik Kratz finally broke Price's spell with a two-run homer in the eighth that cut the Rays' lead to 6-2. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in 7 1/3 innings.Tampa Bay's offense gave its ace plenty of support from the beginning.Wil Myers doubled to center off Toronto starter R.A. Dickey with one out in the first. One out later, Evan Longoria singled through the middle to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.Myers came through again in the second with a two-run single for a 3-0 lead. Matt Joyce then joined the hit show with a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. Jennings was the trail runner on Joyce's double and executed a unique slide at home to avoid the tag while minting the Rays' sixth run.Bill Chastain / MLB.com
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