Price walked three and struck out seven to improve to 7-1 with a 3.40 ERA against AL East rivals. Both his wins over the Yankees have come at home, where he's 9-3 with a 2.96 ERA, compared with to 2-4 with a 5.45 ERA on the road.
"That was one of my better ones [in the majors], I would say," Price said of his 25th career start. "But there's always room for improvement."
Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar hit two-run homers last night for the Rays.
Jason Bartlett's two-run double capped a five-run fourth inning against Javier Vazquez (0-1), making his first appearance for the Yankees since New York's crushing loss to Boston in Game 7 of the 2004 AL Championship Series. Carl Crawford, Dioner Navarro and Ben Zobrist also drove in runs for the Rays.
Alex Rodriguez had an RBI triple for the Yankees, who were limited to four hits until Derek Jeter and Nick Johnson doubled to open the eighth, producing New York's third run.
In other games:
* At Arlington, Texas, Colby Lewis got his first major league win more than 6 years, leading the Rangers over the Mariners, 6-2, and sending skidding Seattle to its fourth straight loss.
Lewis began his career with Texas from 2002-04, had shoulder problems and was waived. He moved on to Detroit and Oakland, then spent the past two seasons with Hiroshima of Japan's Central League, where he went 26-17 with a 2.82 ERA in 55 games.
* At Detroit, Jhonny Peralta bobbled Magglio Ordonez' grounder, and the third baseman's throwing error cleared the bases in a four-run fifth inning that lifted the Tigers over Cleveland, 5-2, in their home opener.
* At Baltimore, Travis Snider sparked a ninth-inning rally against Orioles closer Michael Gonzalez (0-2), giving the Toronto Blue Jays a 7-6 victory in Baltimore's home opener.
Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts left after the first inning with an abdominal strain. The injury appeared to occur as he was sliding into second with a stolen base. It is unknown how long he will be out.
* At Kansas City, Rick Ankiel homered and hit a broken-bat, two-run single off Daniel Bard in the eighth inning, lifting the Royals to a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox.
* At Chicago, J.J. Hardy drove in Joe Mauer with a single in the 11th inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the White Sox, 4-3, for their fourth straight win.
Noteworthy
* Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia passed a series of tests on his ailing upper back, then received an injection to reduce inflammation. X-rays, an MRI exam and a nerve study all came back normal for the catcher, who went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.*
