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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

MLB notes: David Price allows 1 hit, loses in return to Tampa

Tigers starting pitcher David Price struck out nine in his first start against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

David Price felt he’s never pitched better. He still lost.

Price gave up an RBI triple in the first inning for the only hit he allowed in his first start against his former team, but the Detroit Tigers lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 Thursday.

Price (12-9) retired the next 23 batters after Brandon Guyer’s hit gave Alex Cobb all the support he needed. Price never went to a three-ball count in the superb outing.

“I definitely threw the ball well enough to win, but (Cobb) threw the ball even better,” Price said. “I knew which pitches I could throw and which pitches I shouldn’t throw. I shouldn’t throw Brandon Guyer a back-door cutter and I did, and it was a good pitch and he hit it well.”

Ben Zobrist reached on a throwing error by shortstop Eugenio Suarez before Guyer’s hit into the gap in right-center. Price struck out nine in his eight-inning complete game.

“You’re talking about almost a no-hitter,” Torii Hunter said of Price’s effort. “I wish we would have scored at least one run. It’s really frustrating.”

Price got a standing ovation while taking his warmup throws before the bottom of the first. The left-hander, taken first overall by Tampa Bay in the 2007 draft, was the 2012 A.L. Cy Young Award winner.

Angels’ ace Richards out for season

The Los Angeles Angels are going to be without Garrett Richards for the playoff run.

The A.L. West leader’s top starter sustained a serious knee injury, tearing his left patellar tendon Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. He was 13-4 with 164 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA over 168 2/3 innings this year.

General manager Jerry Dipoto said “we’ll be open” about finding a deal to replace Richards in the rotation.

Richards crumbled to the ground covering first base on a potential 3-6-1 double play. He was taken off the field on a stretcher and was flown to Los Angeles, where he had an MRI.

The 26-year-old will have surgery next week and the rehabilitation time should be six to nine months. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake after Richards was placed on the 60-day DL.

Clearing the bases

The Angels acquired 2B Gordon Beckham in a trade with the White Sox. The White Sox, who selected Beckham with the eighth overall pick in the 2008 draft, will receive a player to be named or cash. … Seattle’s Robinson Cano and the Angels’ Albert Pujols will be among the players going to Japan in November for a five-game series against Japan’s national team. Baltimore’s Adam Jones and the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig also will play in the Nov. 11-20 series. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington will lead the team.