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Report: Price mocked Eckersley in front of Red Sox teammates on flight

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

Specifics surrounding the infamous confrontation in late June on a team charter between Boston Red Sox starter David Price and NESN analyst Dennis Eckersley have now come to light.

Though the spat was confirmed by manager John Farrell afterward, details regarding the confrontation were kept under wraps by the organization, but Price did hint that the incident stemmed from the pitcher standing up for his teammates.

Evidently, Price wasn't lying. Sources told Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe the Red Sox southpaw was peeved by Eckersley's reaction to an on-air graphic depicting fellow starter Eduardo Rodriguez's pitching line from a recent rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket. Upon seeing Rodriguez's line of nine hits and five earned runs allowed in three innings, Eckersley's live reaction of "Yuck" didn't sit well with Price.

After being made aware of Eckersley's reaction, sources told Shaughnessy that Price later waited for the NESN analyst to board the team's charter flight to Toronto. When Eckersley attempted to make his way to the back of the plane, Price, in the midst of some Red Sox teammates, stood in his way.

"Here he is - the greatest pitcher who ever lived! This game is easy for him!" Price reportedly said, according to Shaughnessy's sources.

Price then apparently told Eckersley to "Get the (expletive) out of here!"

As a result of the incident, Boston modified its boarding policy for accompanying media on team flights to allow them to board before players do.

Though Farrell later said the team was handling the incident internally, three sources close to Eckersley told Shaughnessy that the broadcaster had yet to receive an apology from either Price or Farrell.

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