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Nick Cafardo

David Price, Dennis Eckersley have confrontation on team flight

David Price allowed three runs in seven innings against the Twins Thursday night at Fenway.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

TORONTO — John Farrell, Dave Dombrowski, and David Price met before Friday night’s game over an incident in which Price verbally confronted NESN analyst Dennis Eckersley on the team flight from Boston to Toronto after Thursday night’s game.

Farrell confirmed the meeting but wouldn’t elaborate, indicating “it’s being handled internally.” The Red Sox manager also confirmed that Price would make his next start, but there was no indication what possible disciplinary action, if any, took place.

Price was one of many who indicated he didn’t want to speak on the matter.

When asked if the situation was settled and over with, Price answered “Yes.” When pressed for more details, he said, “Some people just don’t understand how hard this game is.”

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If anyone knows, it would be Eckersley, who made the Baseball Hall of Fame because he was both an excellent starting pitcher and one of the best closers to play the game.

Eckersley, now a NESN analyst, was asked about the incident before Friday’s game, but would not comment.

A similar no comment came from Dombrowski and team president Sam Kennedy.

What was known was the team was disturbed by the second such incident between Price and a media member.

Price had just pitched well in a 6-3 win over the Twins, going seven innings with his fastball touching 97 miles per hour and no signs of split fingernail or blister issue that had developed in his previous start. But apparently something didn’t sit well with him.

Eckersley seemed glowing in his analysis of Price’s outing, but it was not known whether it was something that was said during that broadcast or from a prior analysis.

Eckersley, who also appears on pregame and postgame shows, is considered to be an honest, tell-it-like-it-is analyst and has the cache of the Hall of Fame to back up his words.

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Earlier this season, Price confronted Comcast Sports New England baseball writer Evan Drellich for a series of tweets.


Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.