All-Star Evan Longoria hit a bases-loaded single in his return to the Tampa Bay lineup and the AL East-leading Rays also fortified their pitching staff Saturday, recalling highly touted prospect David Price from Triple-A Durham.

Longoria started at third base and batted fifth in the opener of a day-night doubleheader against the New York Yankees. It was the rookie slugger’s first action since he was hit by J.J. Putz’s pitch on Aug. 7, breaking his right wrist.

Longoria delivered his two-run single in the fifth inning against Mike Mussina.

“With any kind of injury there’s always going to be some kind of lingering soreness and that’s just the way it is,” Longoria said before the game. “It’s nothing that really hinders me from doing any of my normal stuff but, like I said, that soreness is going to be there probably until I can rest it in the offseason.”

Longoria was one of the leading candidates for AL Rookie of the Year before the injury, hitting .278 with 22 homers and 71 RBIs in 104 games. He could give Tampa Bay a big boost if he can quickly return to form.

“I’m just curious because he’s kind of exceptional so there’s no telling what he could do today, in a positive sense also,” said manager Joe Maddon, whose team entered with a two-game lead over Boston in the division. “It’ll be interesting to see.”

Price and outfielder Jonny Gomes joined the team after the Bulls lost to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the International League championship Friday night. Right-handers Mitch Talbot and Jeff Niemann also were promoted and will join the team on Monday in Florida.

Price was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt and got a $5.6 million signing bonus and six-year, $11.25 million deal with Tampa Bay last August. He breezed through the Rays’ minor league system, going 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA over three levels this season.

“I don’t expect anything different now,” the lanky left-hander said. “Every day I go out there I expect the best of myself. That’s what everybody in this clubhouse does and that’s why they’ve had so much success this year.”

Price and Gomes flew into New York early Saturday morning and dropped their luggage off at the team hotel before traveling to Yankee Stadium.

“We got here early and I took him onto the field. He was taking pictures with his phone,” Gomes said. “It was awesome to see a guy have that much money and that talented but yet still so excited to be in the big leagues.”

The 23-year-old Price throws in the upper 90s and has a terrific slider, and Maddon said he plans to use him in the bullpen. There’s also a chance he could make a spot start Wednesday against the Red Sox. Tampa Bay has another doubleheader at Baltimore on Sept. 23.

Price didn’t seem too concerned about his role as he explored the visitors’ clubhouse at Yankee Stadium and greeted his teammates Saturday morning.

“There’s no level higher than this right here,” he said with a grin. “This is it.”