Rays notes: Price set for Fenway first

David Price will do something tonight he has never done in his major-league career - step on the Fenway Park mound.

Price makes his 51st career start and his 55th career appearance, but it will be the first time he will pitch at Fenway Park.

"Awesome," Price said. "I've been here, I've probably seen 15 games in this park and haven't gotten to pitch in one."

Price didn't pitch in relief during the Rays' two trips to Boston during his rookie season in 2008. The Rays made two trips here in 2009 after Price was recalled from Durham, yet Price either started just before or just after the Rays left town. Ditto for the Rays' first two trips to Fenway this season, including missing the four-game series in April.

He's pitched in Atlanta, Houston and Miami this season before pitching in Boston, not an easy trick for someone who pitches in the American League.

Price will learn tonight what it's like to feel the love from the Red Sox crowd.

"I hope they don't like watching me," Price said. "I hope they enjoy heckling me."

The Red Sox have been counted all but out by the Boston media after being swept over the weekend by the White Sox.

A good outing by Price, who is looking for his 17th win, could help move the Red Sox closer to elimination.

"Absolutely. That would be huge," Price said.

Price is the eighth pitcher since 1952 to record at least 26 wins, a 3.53 ERA or lower and at least 272 strikeouts in his first 50 starts. The others are Gary Peters, Vida Blue, Ron Guidry, Fernando Valenzuela, Dwight Gooden, Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt.

Baldelli's homer clinches start: Rocco Baldelli's return to Boston on Monday was punctuated by his first start of the season. The Rhode Island native, who played for the Red Sox last season, served as the Rays' designated hitter.

"I was debating among him, Willy (Aybar), (Brad) Hawpe," Manager Joe Maddon said. "Just looking at (Red Sox starter Jon) Lester and the way he pitches and the type of pitcher that he is and the package he presents, I was just trying to come to a conclusion, because there's no real outstanding winner.

"Rocco having the good at-bat (Sunday) kind of helped me a little bit. I'm really not normally like that, but everything is so close among all the candidates that I chose Rocco. Plus we're in Boston and he's from Rhode Island, so I thought that's a nice little subplot."

Baldelli homered during a pinch-hit appearance Sunday. It was his first at-bat of the season and first at-bat as a Ray since Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, when he homered in his last at-bat of the game.

"It's a pretty good feeling," Baldelli said about being in the lineup. "Honestly I'm fine with whatever goes on. If we're winning games I'm going to be happy whether that has me in the lineup or not. I'm at that point of my career where winning is the only thing I'm worried about."

No stopping C.C.: Carl Crawford's first-inning steal of third base Monday was his 35th consecutive stolen base against the Red Sox, the longest streak against one team since Vince Coleman swiped 57 straight against the Mets from 1985-90.

Crawford was last caught stealing by Tim Wakefield, who caught Crawford leaning off first base on Sept. 21, 2005. Jason Varitek was the last Boston catcher to throw out Crawford during an attempted steal, and that occurred on May 20, 2004.

Odds and ends: Former Red Sox great Luis Tiant was honored before the game to celebrate his 70th birthday and to mark the 35th anniversary of his work down the stretch for the 1975 Red Sox ... Hawpe made his first visit to Fenway Park since the 2007 World Series.