Motivated by Shark, Price turns in stellar start

DETROIT -- David Price says he's getting better with each start, and he matched up with the Jeff Samardzija, the White Sox's big offseason acquisition, in a pitchers' duel on Friday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Price allowed one run on four hits over eight innings, though he left the game with a no-decision. The Tigers pulled out a 2-1 victory in the ninth on a walk-off single by shortstop Jose Iglesias.

A second-inning home run by Chicago right fielder Avisail Garcia was the first earned run allowed this season by Price, who gave up three unearned runs in his last start.

Video: CWS@DET: Price starts 1-6-3 double play to end 7th

"That's the best I've felt all year," Price said. "I've felt better each start of the season. I felt good five days ago, and I didn't get the results I feel I should when I feel that good. But today, I got good results. It was just a great win."

On the other side, Samardzija allowed one earned run on eight hits over eight innings. Like Price, the run was a solo home run, this one by Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. Price didn't allow a White Sox batter to get into scoring position, but Samardzija held the Tigers to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position against him, and Price took notice of what Samardzija was doing.

Video: CWS@DET: Price makes a fine barehanded play on bunt

"Yeah, it motivates me," Price said. "They had a 1-0 lead through two, and then Cespedes hit a big home run, and then we both hunkered down a bit. If you ask me, he threw the ball better than I did. He was in first and third, nobody out, runner on second with nobody out a couple times. He did a great job of allowing nobody to score. I know how tough that is, especially with our lineup and the guys he had to face."

Price finished with 108 pitches, and he received a standing ovation as he walked off after the eighth. Manager Brad Ausmus said after the game that taking Price out was a no-brainer, but Price didn't tip his hand that he was coming out. Or his cap, rather.

"That's why I didn't tip my cap. I don't want Brad to think I want to come out of the game and that I think I'm done," Price said. "I appreciate the cheers and whatnot. I thought I was going to come out, but I didn't want Brad to see me tip my cap or anything to think that I was done. If he asked me how I felt, I would have told him I wanted to go back out, but I understand."

A matchup of two of the game's top pitchers lived up to its billing, and it wasn't a surprise to Ausmus.

"That's why we got David Price, that's why they got Jeff Samardzija -- to pitch games like that," said Ausmus.