Rays delighted that Price is right for series victory

ST PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays will regard the contribution of improbable closer David Price as a key component in their surprise journey to a first World Series with a 3-1 Game Seven victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Price, who had thrown only 14 innings as a rookie this season for Tampa, used a blazing fastball to strike out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save.

"I wanted the ball," the big left-hander told reporters after helping the Rays reach their first World Series after posting the worst record in Major League Baseball last season.

"Everybody in that pen wanted the ball. This is the biggest night in Rays history."

Price, a starting pitcher who was number one pick overall in last year's draft after his college career at Vanderbilt, joined Tampa Bay in September and was used out of the bullpen.

He was the fourth reliever called on in the eighth after starter Matt Garza, named the series MVP, was removed when the lead-off man reached base on an error.

WILD CELEBRATIONS

After issuing a walk to Jason Bay to start the ninth, Price struck out Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek before getting pinch-hitter Jed Lowery to smack a game-ending grounder to second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

That set off wild celebrations in the middle of the diamond with Price buried under a pile of jubilant Rays players.