Joe Maddon’s veteran relievers were shaken. Most of them were already used as Maddon tried to work through an adventurous eighth inning. The two arms left were Grant Balfour’s right one, which gave up the first three runs in a seven-run comeback in Game 5, and rookie David Price’s left one, which had just 15 innings of Major League experience. Though uconventional, calling on the young lefty was the perfect move for Maddon.

Buster Olney points out that Price was an unknown for the Red Sox, the Rays’ only pitcher left who the Red Sox hadn’t seen and ultimately conquered. But, he was also an unknown for the Rays, who could have never known for sure that he would deliver a dominant, four-out appearance and propel his team into the World Series.

Price didn’t seem to be fazed one bit by the situation. Maybe it’s because he makes throwing 95 mph fastballs look easier than throwing a Nerf football. Or, maybe he has the same “it” factor seen his American League East counterparts Jonathan Papelbon and Joba Chamberlain. Some rookies just have the chops to trust themselves in the biggest situations of their lifetimes.

Bases loaded, two outs, nursing a 3-2 lead in a Game 7 certainly qualifies.

Tampa Bay killer J.D. Drew went down with little more than a whimper in the eighth, which earned Price the right to begin the critical ninth.

A leadoff walk to Jason Bay the next inning could have started a downward spiral, but it didn’t. With the tying run at the plate, Price went on to strike out Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek before inducing the final out on a groundball of the bat of fellow rookie Jed Lowrie.

Price made a winner of Matt Garza, who was equally impressive but overshadowed by Price’s relief performance. Garza was appropriately named the ALCS Most Valuable Player after accounting for two of the Rays’ four wins in the series. In Game 7, he dissected the Red Sox, allowing just a first-inning home run to Dustin Pedroia and nearly matching a career-high with nine strikeouts in seven innings.

The young duo will be at the heart of the World Series against Philadelphia as well. Price will be called upon to neutralize big left-handed bats Chase Utley and Ryan Howard late in games, while Garza will likely start Game 3 against veteran Jamie Moyer.

The series begins Wednesday in Tampa Bay at 8:35 p.m. EST. Cole Hamels will pitch for the National League champions, while Tampa Bay has yet to announce its rotation.

What other blogs are saying …

Crooked Pitch thinks Price became fantasy relevant for 2009.

Christy’s Weblog says Price emerged as the shining star of the ALCS.

Dan LaMothe of MassLive wonders, “Who was that guy?”

Rays Index calls Price “King David“.

Baseball Musings praises the Rays‘ trading Delmon Young for Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett.