COMMERCE CITY — Everybody was looking forward to the return of Colorado Rapids captain Jack Price.

In his first game back since Aug. 6, the second-half substitute played 27 minutes in yeoman-like work and delivered a classic Price assist to Jonathan Lewis, who scored the game-clinching third goal of the night.

Colorado held on to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the team’s first win since Aug. 6, and Price moved in to second all-time in club history with his 35th assist.

“It felt really good to be out there just to feel the competition (again),” Price said following the game. “To feel a tackle, a header — you miss that sort of side of it and it’s the stuff that you don’t think you’d miss, but you do. Obviously, to win, even better.”

Colorado (9-12-9, 36 points) got a lift from its attack and midfield after a tough week on the road when the team scored just once. In fall-like weather, the Rapids’ offense came alive in a big way, though it wasn’t easy.

Vancouver opened the scoring inside of 10 minutes off of a mistake from Lalas Abubakar. With the ball coming over his shoulder awkwardly, the Ghanian tried a side-footed clearance but slipped and fell down. Brian White came in onrushing behind Abubakar and after taking a few dribbles, beat William Yarbrough to make it 1-0.

Even with the early deficit, Colorado knew the stakes. The Rapids need to win all of their final five games to have a chance at the playoffs.

With that in mind, Colorado went to work through its front line.

In the 21st minute, Jonathan Lewis crossed in a ball to the center of the penalty box that fell to the feet of Felipe Gutiérrez. He took a touch and found Gyasi Zardes, who got back to an onside position before receiving the pass. Zardes hit the first-time pass into the bottom left-hand corner to even the score at 1-1. It was Zardes’ 10th goal of the season and ninth as a member of the Burgundy Boys.

Colorado continued to press through a number of dangerous set pieces. Eventually, the pressure paid off in the form of a penalty kick. In the 33rd minute, Lewis did brilliantly after Ranko Veselinovic fouled initially but advantage was played. In the ensuing dual, Veselinovic fouled Lewis inside the penalty box and referee Kevin Stott pointed to the spot.

Diego Rubio calmly stepped up and sent goalkeeper Cody Cropper the wrong way to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. With his goal, the Chilean moved into fifth all-time in club history in goals scored (32), and it was also his 13th goal of the campaign.

In the second half, Vancouver came out aggressive and had a few good looks at the net, but Colorado’s back line had a few significant blocks and was well organized.

With the game hanging in the balance, head coach Robin Fraser made a substitute which ultimately changed the outcome as Price and Michael Barrios came on in the 67th minute to a rousing ovation.

Eight minutes later, Lewis took the roof off DSGP with a goal out of nowhere. Price switched the field of play and found Lewis, who drove the byline and hit the upper roof of the net for the team’s third goal, and his fifth of the season.

From there, Colorado was able to see out a few Vancouver chances with a bend-not-break defense.

“Because our engagement was so good guys were in pretty good positions most of the night and because we were dense, close to each other,” Fraser said. “These are all really important things to a team functioning well.”

While the Rapids returned to DSGP, the stadium hosted five nights of concerts over Labor Day weekend and the pitch reflected as such with marks remaining. However, Fraser highlighted the work of the grounds crew to get the field in shape. A team official confirmed the pitch will be replaced after Wednesday’s game.

While it wasn’t in pristine condition, midfielder Felipe Gutiérrez said it wasn’t a problem.

“In my country, I’ve played on worse fields than tonight,” he joked. “We were able to play on the field just fine.”

With the win, the Rapids leap-frogged Vancouver and moved into ninth place in the Western Conference. Colorado will next host San Jose on Wednesday in another must-win game.