Price now stands with Morris — who won twice in the World Series in 1984 and 1991 — in the pantheon of pitchers who have owned the brightest stage. Price was 2-0 with a 1.98 E.R.A. against the Dodgers, beating them in Game 2, collecting two outs in relief in Game 3 and then beating them again with seven dazzling innings in Game 5.

“He’s got it in here,” said Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, patting his chest. “He’s got a big heart. That was as good as it gets. I’m speechless. That was an absolutely stunning performance.”

Price assumed Chris Sale would start Game 5 until Cora told him otherwise on the field after Game 4. Price quickly went into his pre-start shell, eating his postgame meal alone in the traveling secretary’s office, listening to rap and hip-hop through his headphones. One selection, Price said, was “The Flute Song,” by Russ.

“People keep talking, I just keep winning,” the chorus goes, continuing after an expletive, “They talkin’ reckless; I don’t believe ’em.”

The lyrics fit a pitcher who knew there was only one way to escape the question that had greeted him in Boston and never ceased: Why did he pitch so poorly under pressure? Price’s simple stock answer — “If you don’t like it, pitch better” — made for a good sound bite, but belied his frustration with the doubters.

“It was tough, absolutely,” Price said in his news conference after Game 5. “To answer that question in spring training — day and day and day and day, and over and over and over and over, anytime it got to September, playoffs — I hold all the cards now, and that feels so good. That feels so good. I can’t tell you how good it feels to hold that trump card. And you guys have had it for a long time. You’ve played that card extremely well. But you don’t have it anymore, none of you do, and that feels really good.”