Yesterday evening I went to my first Sox game of the season at Fenway Pahk. It was the night cap in a day-night doubleheader against the Twins, 'cause the game on the day before was rained out. Earlier the Sox won the rain-shorted day game with 10-1, featured with a Tim Wakefield complete game, three 2-run homers, a Jacoby Ellsbury stealing base, and a Ellsbury caught stealing base. It was a pity that I didn't get the chance to see Mike Lowell as he was given the night off, but Kevin Youkilis on the 3rd base and Jeff Bailey on the 1st (and his homer, for that matter) were gold.

There was a little rain when I got to the ball pahk at 6:30. The tarp was taken off and it looked like the game was right on 7:10 schedule. But a few moments later the rain got heavier and the tarp was back on. My seat was under the rafters so I was able to stay put and keep refreshing the B's website on my iPhone for updates. Then the public announcer said there was going to be a 45 minute delay. To my great joy, the good people at Fenway put the B's game on the jumbotron to make sure fans had something to cheer for. At the moment the B's were down 0-1 at the beginning of the 1st period. Before Michael Ryder tied the game and David Krejci gave the B's the lead, there was baseball again.

God didn't I miss sweet caroline the green monster the pesky pole the grass the dirt the sound of the wooden bat hitting the ball and the players running bases like there's no tomorrow? Gah, I'm so smitten.

Since it was Earth Day, the Sox had their white tops with green prints and a clover on the left sleeve. I totally loved it! Who said red didn't go well with green?

Brad Penny was on the mound for the Sox, and he was rock solid compared to his last outing (3 innings and 7 earned runs; nevertheless, the Sox won that game with an epic comeback and a perfect bullpen performance). The first 1.5 innings went pretty fast, and I found out the B's led the Habs 2-1 entering the 1st intermission. Shared a laugh with the B's-loving seat-neighbors.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the bottom order of the Sox lineup began to work. J.D. Drew walked, Jason Varitek was hit by a pitch, and then Jeff Bailey, who was just called up from the PawSox, went yard to the monster seats on his first at-bat of the season. With the players circling the bases, the public music system at Fenway played the B's goal song! SO FREAKIN' AWESOME! I'm still getting goosebumps just recalling it. Can't wait for the Winter Classic at Fenway in the New Year day!

Then a beautiful double play by Dustin Pedoria later, the top order of the Sox lineup continued pounding the Twins in the bottom of the 3rd. David Ortiz hit a wall double that scored Ellsbury and Pedroia, who were on base thanks to a walk and a double. This half inning waiting might be too long for Penny to keep warm, because he struggled when he came back to the mound. Luckily it was Ellsbury who manned the center field. The only real damage appeared to be Justin Morneau's solo homer to the center. Well, Morneau said he's sort of a B's fan and was following their playoff runs. I guess I could forgive him for that. But the inning wasn't over until Nick Green made his third error of the day, which resulted in another run for the Twins. Nevertheless, the Sox secured two more runs in the 4th, thanks to Bailey and Green.

In a later inning the Twins scored their third run but that was it. Ramon Ramirez (ERA:0.00) and Hideki Okajima relived and had two scoreless innings, before they handed it over to Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th.

During the action, the score board showed the B's had beaten the Hab's 4-1, and the jumboltron also played the goal highlights and drew a loud burst of cheering and applause from a jubilant crowd (At one time the guy sitting two seats next to me pointed to the score board, shouting in glee: "look, the B's lead 7-2!" Only seconds later did he realize that's the Sox score. We all got a kick out of it. lmao~).

So, the 9th inning. Pap was again right on the money. He shut down the Twins 1-2-3 and gave Penny the win. Nothing quite like patting and hugging and 'Dirty Water' in the ball pahk after a sweet win.

On my way out, I stopped by the souvenirs store and bought a t-shirt with Masterson's name on. God isn't this kid full of future. Too bad I only saw him during the national anthem (his bald head was quite noticeable w/o the cap on). XD

The Sox won seven straight games after the 2-6 start. They now tie with the Yankees at the second place in the AL East (can anyone tell me why Blue Jays are so hot right now?). NOW BRING ON THE YANKS FRIDAY!

ps: THE B'S SWEPT THE HABS WITH UTTER DOMINANCE IN 4 GAMES (note that this is the Habs' 100th anniversary season)! THE GOAL DIFFERENCE? 17-6. HOW SWEEP IS THAT! BOSTON SPORTS TEAMS? WIN WIN WIN (yeah I'm talking to you, Paul Pierce and the Celts. Go get the Bulls tonight!)!!!