Final Score: Boston Red Sox 7, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2It may be the pride of an emigrant, but one thing I've always loved about my home state is its collection of eclectic civic features. For example: Massachusetts is a commonwealth, not a state. At one point, it was four times the size of its current area because it controlled the area now known as Maine, even though the two states are not connected. It has two unique holidays: Evacuation Day (March 17), which combines American History (the British leaving Boston) and Irish-American pride (St. Patrick's Day is the same day) into one celebration; and Patriots' Day, commemorating (in Massachusetts, Maine and, oddly enough, Wisconsin) the victories at Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War. But Patriot's Day has also meant something else for the past 48 years: an early-day Red Sox game at Fenway. This year's edition, a victory to complete a rain-shortened sweep of LA, had enough quirky happenings to make it worthy of its home state's unusual holiday:
- Top of the first inning: Josh Beckett gives up a Monster shot to O-Cabs that seemed aided by the strong, wet wind. Beckett then hits Guerrero, the next batter, on the wrist, taking him out the game. Home plate umpire Rick Reed issues warnings to both sides, even though the Angels have yet to throw a pitch. Beckett would go on to have a strong outing, generally pitching as if he had a small lead to protect over seven innings.
- Bottom of the first inning: perhaps rattled by the warning-granted restriction on throwing inside pitches (although I see he didn't pitch well in his last start, either), Angels starter Ervin Santana gives up three straight doubles, a two run single to Manny, another run when second baseman Howie Kendrick threw the ball into left field on a possible double play and a fifth run on Mike Lowell's sixth double of the season. Santana does not record an out until the seventh batter of the inning and surrenders six runs.
- Bottom of the fourth inning: Three innings later, Santana ends his day by walking up to Papi and carefully placing the ball in his wheelhouse. Papi obliges with a home run that hits off the top of the photographer's well in dead center. An Ortiz home run isn't that odd, but every home run I've seen him hit in Fenway this year has been to dead center, which is unusual.
- Bottom of the seventh inning: a batter (I don't remember who) hits a pop up into the front row of seats on the third baseline. One of the Angel's fielders runs after the ball and knocks over two guy (and their beers) while trying - and failing - to make the catch. Right after he does so, another guy a few rows back, for reasons unknown, throws his slice of pizza and hits one of the now beer-soaked fans in the back, with a sauce splash-over into the remains of his beer. D.O. and Remy, who have entered blowout mode (they were talking about Orsillo's hosting duties on another show on NESN when the incident happened), immediately award the irate victim, who's now yelling at the pizza thrower, the Pepsi Fan of the Game award, "assuming he isn't ejected."
Edit: The Boston Herald has full details of the incident; here's the video on YouTube. - Julio Lugo and Manny Ramirez bring their gold gloves: Julio Lugo certainly isn't a defensive replacement for Alex Gonzalez and Manny, despite his enormous number of assists last year, doesn't get a lot of respect as a left fielder, so it was certainly a surprise when both players, especially Lugo, brought the defense, turning a number of possible bloop hits into spectacular outs that did a lot to keep the Angels' offense in check.
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