Yankees roll past Price, Red Sox

NEW YORK — So far, the price has been exorbitant.

Unable to put away the biggest batters of the game, David Price was chased in the fifth inning Saturday and the New York Yankees beat Boston 8-2 to hand the struggling left-hander his first loss in a Red Sox uniform.

Price, who signed a $217 million contract in the offseason, had won a career-best nine consecutive decisions dating to Sept. 5, 2015, with Toronto. But his velocity is down and he has a 6.75 ERA through seven starts for Boston.

“I feel like the more velocity that you have, the more mistakes that you can get away with. Right now I’m not getting away with mistakes – or good pitches, for that matter,” Price said. “It’s been tough, for sure. But I know things are going to turn around.”

Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) pitched eight strong innings, giving the Yankees the deep outing they needed with late-inning relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller unavailable because of heavy workloads lately.

Didi Gregorius hit a three-run double and Carlos Beltran added a two-run double for New York, which has won three of four following a six-game slide. After getting swept in three games by their longtime rivals at Fenway Park last weekend, the last-place Yankees will try to return the favor Sunday night.

Backup catcher Austin Romine had three hits from the No. 9 spot in the batting order, including a pair of RBI doubles. Gregorius broke a 1-all tie in the fourth when he reached down and hooked an 0-2 pitch from Price (4-1) into the right-field corner.

Beltran’s double to left, also on a two-strike pitch with two outs, made it 6-2 and ended Price’s afternoon.

“It’s not like there’s a glaring deficiency or flaw in his delivery. It’s more the finishing action of the pitch,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said, adding that Price is healthy. “Right now, we’re examining everything.”

Brock Holt had an early RBI single and Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for Boston, which had won 9 of 12. Bradley extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games, the longest current streak in the majors.

Price was 13-1 in his previous 17 starts – and 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his past eight outings at Yankee Stadium. He fell to 14-8 with a 4.34 ERA against New York overall.

“I felt good. Just didn’t execute enough pitches. They hit some good ones, and that’s part of it,” Price said. “I made some pretty good pitches in certain spots. That pitch to Didi, that’s a good pitch.”

The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner has allowed at least five earned runs four times this season and is 1-1 with a 9.26 ERA in two games against New York.

“It’s not fun for me. I don’t enjoy it. I’ve got to get better,” he said.

NOTES: When asked why he didn’t leave the dugout after he was ejected Friday night, Farrell said: “Great finish to a game. I didn’t want to miss it.” … Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) is scheduled to pitch Sunday for Triple-A Pawtucket in what could be his final rehab start before joining the rotation. … Aaron Hicks played center field for the Yankees in place of Jacoby Ellsbury, who strained a hip muscle Friday night and is expected to miss a few days. “Right now there’s no plan to put him on the disabled list,” Girardi said. … Catcher Brian McCann was rested in favor of Romine.