David Price World Series hero: Red Sox lefty completes reinvention in championship clinching win | Matt Vautour

LOS ANGELES - Years in the future, as all of these World Series titles and Boston championships run together in our collective consciousness, the 2018 playoff run will be the David Price World Series.

He was the face of this postseason and the starting pitcher in two of the Red Sox biggest wins.

The veteran starting pitcher, whose tenure with the Red Sox has been rocky at times, redefined himself, his perception in Boston and his legacy as a baseball player while helping the franchise win another World Series.

After his third straight terrific postseason start, Price figures to get some of the loudest cheers, both when his Duck Boat passes in next week's rolling rally and again when he's introduced on opening day in April.

He's not the guy with the big contract that didn't deliver anymore. He's David Price - World Series hero.

He cemented that on Sunday. On three days rest, Price gave up a home run to the first guy he faced and then didn't surrender another run in seven strong innings. At one point he'd set down 14 straight. Joe Kelly and Chris Sale were dominant behind him in the eighth and ninth, but it was Price who did the heavy lifting.

The Red Sox needed him to be this guy. With Sale's health limiting his ability to front the rotation, Price assumed the role and all the attention and pressure that came with it.

After the game, the Red Sox fans behind the first base dugout chanted his name during postgame celebration. He tipped his cap their way.

"I appreciated it. We have a lot of Red Sox fans still here celebrating," he said. "They showed me love. I showed it back."

Three weeks ago, his loss in Game 2 of the ALDS seemed like damning evidence that all the beliefs about him were true. Wasn't tough enough. Couldn't handle Boston. Doesn't have the makeup for the postseason. Price couldn't get out of the second inning that day and looked like a spiritually defeated man as he walked off the mound.

He was talk radio fodder and reporters asked Alex Cora if he'd consider sending Price to the bullpen permanently.

Whatever switch he flipped before Game 5 in Houston changed the trajectory of his career. On three days rest he cliched American League Championship Series with the best start and first win as a starter in his postseason career.

Six days later he delivered again, with six strong innings to win World Series Game 2 and put Boston up 2-0 in the World Series. The trend continued Sunday.

As he discussed all of it, the lefty's emotions bounced around as the magnitude of the moment sunk in. He was moved to tears when asked about how much it means to him to be a good teammate. He was reflective, relieved, joyful, wistful and even defiantly angry at the media for perceived past slights.

Most of all he seemed proud of what he'd been a part of.

"To be able to come through on this stage and in October for myself and for my teammates, I know I can do it now," he said. "And it's always a good feeling to have. It's just good to know."

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