Not only that, but the Sox made their Massachusetts Lottery debut, becoming the first big league baseball team to be honored with its very own scratch ticket. Imagine: A team representing a Nation plays in a cathedral and boosts the local tax revenue. So much for separation of church and state on Yawkey Way.
Olde Fenway earned rave reviews after undergoing its most extensive renovations since Thomas Yawkey bought the team in 1934. High-rolling fans enjoyed new outdoor pavilions upstairs behind home plate and folks in the lower arena, some of whom paid $90 or more to park, were greeted with new food stands, staircases, wider concourses, and an improved sound system.
The product on the field wasn't bad, either. New Sox stopper Josh Beckett struggled for an inning, then blinded the Jays, allowing only two hits and no runs over his final six frames to improve to 2-0. New third baseman Mike Lowell, who came to Boston with Beckett in a deal made during Theo Epstein's self-enforced sabbatical, cracked four hits, including three doubles, to lead the offense.
Meanwhile, rookie Jonathan Papelbon picked up his fourth save in the last five games, and Franchise Face David Ortiz celebrated his contract extension with a cherry-on-top solo homer in the seventh. Not a bad 95th birthday bash for the old ballpark.
The Red Sox are 6-1, have won five straight, and lead the Yankees by three games.
Sox captain Jason Varitek gave his stamp of approval to the Fenway improvements. The catcher said the open-air seats behind home made Fenway louder, adding, ''It can't do anything but create excitement, and this is a very exciting place to play."
Six months after the Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the eventual world champion White Sox, Boston fans were ready for baseball. Standing atop the Green Monster at 6:30 a.m. yesterday, one could see six young men playing Wiffle ball on top of the crumbling garage across Lansdowne Street from the Wall. While the sun rose over the right-field pavilion, and fans in tents began to thaw from an overnight stay waiting for standing-room tickets, the Wifflers set up a makeshift diamond and took turns trying to put some good plastic on the ball.
Repeat: This was at 6:30 in the morning.
