Price's All-Star experience positive

Things went well at Tuesday's All-Star Game for David Price. Well, except for the pregame jitters and the lady he struck in the neck with an errant warm-up throw.

"Yeah, in the neck," he said.

Price was in the outfield trying to warm up, but he had to throw near the wall because of the giant American flag covering most of the outfield.

"I slipped (while throwing) and the ball rose up," Price said. "I knew the (bullpen catcher) wasn't going to catch it. It went right over his mitt and hit a lady right in the neck. I gave her the ball and gave her a hug."

Then he pitched two scoreless innings in what became a 3-1 win for the National League.

"The best part of the All-Star Game was probably after I threw, just being able to chill and not have to worry about anything in the dugout, talk to those guys," Price said. "The worst part? There really wasn't a worst part. It was a mental train wreck. There was a lot of stuff going on those two days. You didn't really have a lot of free time. I saw my parents once. You've got a lot of stuff to do when you are out there."

One of Price's pitches was clocked at 100 mph. Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey called one of his contacts with the Angels, who said it was a legitimate 100. Price isn't so sure.

"I don't think I did, but I'll take it," Price said. "From now on, I'm telling everybody I threw 100."

It was the fourth All-Star Game appearance for LF Carl Crawford. And while he didn't hit a home run like he did in his second All-Star Game or win MVP honors like he did in his third, Crawford said it was an enjoyable experience, especially when he was announced as a starter before the game.

"It gives you chills, gives you excitement," he said. "You can't really still believe it's really happening when it's going on. You just try to absorb the moment. You figure there's nothing else can make you feel like that, but there is always something that does. It definitely gave me the chills, got me a little nervous. I tried not to trip running out to the base line."

Rodriguez flooded, arrives too late

The fire sprinklers in Sean Rodriguez's condo went off Thursday, causing damage, so Rodriguez was not able to accompany the team to New York on Thursday's charter flight. He did not reach Yankee Stadium in time for Friday's game.

"The internal damage to the pad caused him to stay a lot longer," Manager Joe Maddon said. "The sprinkler system went off and it kind of messed up the whole place, and he's got a little baby, so I'm fine with the fact that he's a little bit late."

Rodriguez and his wife, Giselle, have two children: Sofia, 2, and Sean John, 1.

Maddon originally had Rodriguez in the lineup batting eighth. Instead, Maddon moved Ben Zobrist from right field to second base and put Gabe Kapler in right.

"Who knows why Kapler was put in the lineup? I never really try to exam fate in a sense," Maddon said. "If fate wants Kapler in the lineup they got him or she's got him or he's got him or whatever's got him."

Thank you, Mr. Steinbrenner

Crawford, who is making $10 million in this, the final year of his contract and stands to make much more on the free-agent market, was asked what he thought of George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner who helped usher in the era of free agency with large contracts.

"We definitely appreciate what he's done for baseball with the salaries, especially me in my case," Crawford said. "You can't ask for a better situation, so I'm definitely grateful for that."

Odds and ends

To honor Bob Sheppard, who worked Yankees games from 1951 to 2008, the public address system was silent throughout the game. ... Price's equipment was not packed Thursday, forcing the All-Star to borrow Reid Brignac's pants, sliding pants and undershirt and a James Shields batting practice jersey for BP. ... Jeff Niemann said he is fully healthy to make his start today. He left his last start after 70 pitches because of a stiff back. ... The Rays' winning percentage (.614) and ERA (3.59) at the All-Star break was the best combination of the two in the AL over the past 20 years. ... Crawford had 50 RBIs and 31 stolen bases at the break, making him the first major-leaguer with at least 50 RBIs and 30 steals before the All-Star Game since Eric Davis in 1987.

Roger Mooney