BOSTON — No matter how often David Price came up short, no matter how frequently he looked in the mirror — or anywhere else — to search for answers to his playoff shortcomings, he kept getting back on the mound.

If there was a cloud around him, it never darkened his mood.

“I always enjoy doing this,” he said. “Just because I failed in October for about nine straight years, it didn’t take away my passion from baseball. This is something I fell in love with whenever I was 2 years old.”

This October is getting easier and easier for Price to wrap his arms around. After pitching the Boston Red Sox into the World Series last week, he put them halfway to a title on Wednesday with six strong innings in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The victory gave the Red Sox a two-games-to-none lead as the Series heads to the West Coast this weekend. Boston is seeking its fourth championship in the last 15 seasons.