Price, Longoria and Rays headed to playoffs again after 5-2 win over Rangers in tiebreaker

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Texas Rangers\' Martin Perez steps back onto the mound after giving up a two-run home run to Tampa Bay Rays\' Evan Longoria during the third inning of an American League wild-card tiebreaker baseball game Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

ARLINGTON, Texas – David Price threw a complete game, Evan Longoria had a two-run homer among his three hits and the Tampa Bay Rays are in the playoffs again after a 5-2 win over Texas in the AL wild-card tiebreaker Monday night.

The Rays face another do-or-die game Wednesday night at Cleveland in the AL wild-card game. Tampa Bay is in the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.

Price (10-8), the reigning AL Cy Young winner who had a 10.26 ERA in four previous starts at Rangers Ballpark, struck out four and picked off two runners.

Even with the return of All-Star slugger Nelson Cruz from his 50-game drug suspension in the Biogenesis case, the Rangers missed a chance to get to the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

Texas had won seven in a row to force the majors’ first wild-card tiebreaker since 2007.

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