David Price responds to David Ortiz: “This is not a war.”

Red Sox DH David Ortiz made some regrettable comments directed at Rays pitcher David Price following Friday’s game. Drama from last week’s series in Florida — in which the Red Sox did not appreciate Yunel Escobar stealing third base with a five-run lead in the eighth inning — continued, as Price hit two Boston batters and four in Red Sox uniforms were ejected.

Ortiz told the media that Price was acting “like a little girl” and a “little [expletive]”. He added, “It’s a war. It’s on.”

Price had a chance to respond on Saturday evening prior to the start of the second game of the series in Boston between the two clubs. Via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

#Rays‘ Price: “For as many people as I quote-unquote lost respect from, I gained respect from a lot more. I know that’s a fact.”

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014

More from Price: “Nobody’s bigger than the game of baseball. You ask pitchers from 10-15-20 years ago. That’s normal. Part of the game.”

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014

More Price: “He was mad. I get it. You say stupid stuff when you’re mad. I’m sure he probably wishes he didn’t say some of things he said…

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014

“You can’t equate the game we play to a war. Kellen Winslow said he’s a soldier. No, he’s not. This is not a war…not a good comparison.”

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014

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The Twins trampled the White Sox on Friday night, cruising to a cool 11-4 lead over their division rivals and collecting their sixth double-digit win of 2019. Even more impressive, they picked up their 99th, 100th, and 101st home runs, a feat that’s rarely been matched in a team’s first 50 games of any given season.

The first homer of the night was delivered by Eddie Rosario in the third inning. Working against a single-run deficit, Rosario lifted an 0-1 fastball from the White Sox’ Reynaldo López, planting it firmly in the left field stands and evening the score, 4-4. Two batters later, Rosario’s solo home run got a sequel: a 398-footer from Miguel Sanó, this one postmarked for the upper deck in left.

In the fourth, now leading 5-4, the Twins saw a third and final homer from the bat of Max Kepler, whose center-field blast traveled a projected 397 feet to give the club a two-run advantage. Per MLB Stats, the Twins’ record — 101 homers in 50 games — stands second only to that of the 1999 Mariners, who managed to club 102 home runs before their 51st game of the season.

While the record has undoubtedly been a team effort, Rosario leads the pack with a team-best 15 homers so far this year, closely followed by C.J. Cron (13), Max Kepler (11), and Jonathan Schoop (10). Sanó, whose solo shot marked the team’s 100th home run of 2019, has just five, though there’s little doubt he’ll reach double digits before the end of the season.

According to MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park, the Twins also made it to an even 300 runs scored in 2019, for a satisfying average of six runs per game and a new franchise record (previous high mark: 273 runs scored in 1992). With the win, they improved to 34-16 on the year and continue to hold a comfortable eight-game lead in the AL Central.