If the rain wasn't bad enough, the entertainment on the center-field scoreboard was the Yankees-Rockies game and Mariano Rivera bearing down in the ninth to nail down a 7-5 Yankees victory.
But Garciaparra did make a successful return to the Red Sox, going 1 for 2 and fielding his position with aplomb. He was pulled following the rain delay as a cautious measure to protect his Achilles.
"I would have loved to bring him back but it was the right thing to do," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "It was wet. We had a layoff. Believe me, I would have loved to have seen him hit. We just have to keep an eye on him a little bit. We owe it to the organization, to him and ourselves."
Garciaparra said it was a little disappointing' that the rain cut short his night because "the ovation they gave me was incredible. I do truly appreciate it. I really do. I can't thank them enough. It was a special feeling."
But the feeling probably wasn't as special when couldn't make the play when Garciaparra short-hopped a throw to first that Dominique couldn't scoop up, then threw wildly to home as two runs scored. "It came up on me and popped out [of my glove]," said the infielder.
Padres starter Brian Lawrence had limited the Sox to five hits over the first five innings. Only once, in the second, did the Sox have two baserunners. Otherwise, Lawrence (8-3) was solving the Boston hitters.
"He was outstanding," Bochy said. "He pitched very well. The last thing you want to see when your starter is pitching well is a long rain delay. He did a terrific job. He's been hot."
