BOSTON -- David Price at last had his postseason breakthrough when he fired six brilliant innings (three hits, no runs, no walks, nine strikeouts) to lead the Red Sox to a clinching win in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series last Thursday in Houston.
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And now, the lefty will get the nod in Wednesday's Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers, Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced on Monday.
Price's impressive performance against the Astros lifted the burden he carried for never winning a postseason start. In 12 career starts in the playoffs, Price is now 1-9 with a 5.63 ERA. The Red Sox won the last two games he started, marking the first two times Price's team had been victorious in any of his October starts.
"That's cool. That's awesome. I don't have to prepare myself for that [question] in Spring Training, February 20th or when September rolls around and I've still got five regular-season starts [left]. I don't have to answer that question any more, so that feels good," Price said after winning Game 5 of the ALCS.
This is the second trip to the World Series for Price, who went with the Rays in 2008 after being called up in September of that season. In the '08 Fall Classic, Price was used strictly as a reliever, notching a 2.70 ERA in two outings. The Phillies won in five games.
Just as he did in the last two rounds, Cora will keep his options open for Games 3 and 4.

Cora has used starters Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi out of the bullpen this postseason, and that trend could continue in the first two games of the World Series.
In the first two rounds, Eovaldi started Game 3 and Porcello got the nod in Game 4. Eovaldi has been electric this postseason, going 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three appearances.