NEW YORK — The raw data is alarming. David Price has a high earned run average, decreased velocity on his fastball, and has twice been hit hard by the Yankees, a team with one of the worst offenses in the American League.
On Saturday, when the Red Sox turned to their new ace for leadership after a controversial loss the night before, Price couldn’t even finish five innings.
But what’s worse than any statistic or radar gun reading is that nobody seems to know why it’s happening. Or if they do, they just don’t want to say it.
“I don’t know, honestly,’’ Price said after an 8-2 loss to the Yankees. “That’s something I’ve got to figure out.’’
If ever there was a day for Price to earn the trust of his new teammates and fans, it was Saturday afternoon.
The Sox returned to Yankee Stadium about 12 hours after a controversial 3-2 loss on Friday with a need to wash away the sour taste. Manager John Farrell put the same lineup on the field, the only change being Price on the mound.
“This is an opportunity for us to go out and have David Price lead the way,’’ Farrell said before the game.
The Sox scored a run in the second inning before Price gave up one in the third, three in the fourth, and two more in the fifth. A Yankees lineup missing Alex Rodriguez, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Brian McCann touched Price for six runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out only four.
Price now has a 6.75 ERA and has allowed six or more earned runs in three of his last four starts. Price had done that only 11 times previously in his career, never more than three times in a single season.
It’s only seven starts. But then again, that’s 20 percent of his season.
“This sucks. It’s not fun for me. I want to enjoy it. I’ve got to get better,’’ Price said.
The obvious concern is whether there’s some injury. Farrell said Price is healthy, as did pitching coach Carl Willis. When Price got the same question, he didn’t pause.
“Absolutely,’’ he said. “I feel good. My health is not a concern. Honestly, I feel good out there.’’
The question then becomes whether Price can fix it.
“That’s something I definitely take pride in,’’ he said. “I feel I’ve done extremely well throughout my career being able to make adjustments on the fly, whether it’s pitch to pitch or game to game.’’
Velocity is one issue. Price averaged just over 92 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball Saturday, well below the 94 he averaged last season. A pitcher capable of hitting 95 or 96 touched only 93.5.
The drop in velocity has led to Price throwing his secondary pitches more often. It was his changeup in previous starts but more the curveball Saturday.
“It’s down a little bit from maybe what we’ve been accustomed to seeing,’’ Farrell said. “That’s not health related. Right now we’re examining everything. Physically he checks out.’’
Said Willis: “We haven’t seen the velocity at this point that he’s had before. It’s May 7 and power pitchers tend to get it a little later.’’
But Price doesn’t feel velocity is some intractable problem.
“No, not for me,’’ he said. “I’ll be all right.’’
With runners in scoring position, opposing hitters are 16 of 44 (.362) with eight doubles and two home runs this year. His command out of the stretch is another problem and certainly was Saturday.
Price allowed an RBI double by No. 9 hitter Austin Romine in the third inning after getting ahead, 0 and 2.
Three runs scored in the fifth inning when No. 8 hitter Didi Gregorius doubled to right field with the bases loaded on an 0-and-2 pitch with two outs.
Price threw a changeup low but Gregorius was able to get to the ball.
“I don’t know how he hit that ball,’’ catcher Christian Vazquez said.
Price walked two in the fifth and with two outs allowed a double by Carlos Beltran. That was on a 2-and-2 pitch.
Price dominated the Atlanta Braves on April 26, allowing two runs over eight innings and striking out 14. That game looked like a breakout.
“We felt that way,’’ Farrell said. “There was location, there was maybe a little bit of power to the stuff . . . felt like that might have been a turn for him.’’
In two starts since, both against the Yankees, Price has allowed 12 runs on 15 hits over 11? innings. He has worked at a glacial place, too, seemingly frustrated if not uncertain.
“Just got to execute more. I know I’m better than what I’m throwing right now. Just got to get better,’’ Price said.
On a day the Yankees did not have relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller available, Nathan Eovaldi went eight innings and allowed two runs. He was regularly 95 m.p.h. or better and struck out six without a walk.
Brock Holt had an RBI single in the second inning and Jackie Bradley Jr. a home run in the fifth inning.
“Bad day for us,’’ Vazquez said. “But we know who Price is. He’s going to be that same pitcher. We, all of us, need to work on it and figure it out. We have a lot of season left to play and he’s going to be who he is.’’
Farrell was more succinct.
“We’ve got work to do,’’ he said.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
