Angels 9 Red Sox 2

July 30, 2008
Wednesday night
with Jim P
Fenway Park

I spent the day in Boston doing American Revolution stuff. After having climbed 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument, I was exhausted and a bit wobbly. My legs hurt for days. By 6:00, my aching legs were ready for some relaxation. Baseball time!

Impressive
I love this place. I need to make sure to get there more. I can't believe I didn't go to any games at Fenway from '03 - '06 after attending games there three of the previous four years.
I was able to get tickets a few days before the game through the box office. 75 bucks a pop for left field upper deck. I was fine with that though. I was willing to spend more. If I'm in Boston, I'm going to a game, damnit. I had never sat in the upper deck at Fenway before so that was exciting. Apparently, these seats are brand new this year.
With trade rumors swirling, I commented that this game might be Manny's last game in Boston playing for the home team. I was proven right the next day when Manny was traded to the Dodgers. This is from Manny's first at-bat of the game.
That sucker really is high. From different parts of the park, it looks deceivingly small. Not from this angle.
I was excited to drink a couple of beers and watch some baseball but I didn't like this behemoth who pretty much sat on top of me the entire game. Because of him, I think I will be rooting against the Angels in the playoffs this year. That's my leg in the lower right corner.
I love the Manny goes into the scoreboard thing and am glad to have been there for the last time.

In he goes during a pitching change.
Out he comes.
Nothing will ever beat this gem of a picture though.
The game was pretty much a snoozefest. The Angels were looking good and won their 12th game out of their last 14. The Sox were completely lethargic and made four errors. Judging by the good ball that they started playing immediately after trading Manny, they must have been in a Manny daze during this game and the other two games of the Angels sweep.

Josh Beckett got nailed. Joe Saunders pitched well and earned his 14th victory. Garrett Anderson went for 4 for 5 with a home run and 4 RBI. Mark Teixeira didn't do anything in his Angels debut but who needed him when the rest of the lineup bailed him out. Manny went o fer 3 and on this night, at least, the Red Sox did deserve a player like him. All around team sloppiness was in effect.

After the game, we walked over to the Green Monster seats. Pretty cool.

Other things of note:
1. The Red Sox relief pitchers do silly cheers during rallies by banging empty bottles on the roof of the bullpen dugout. That must be new this year. I liked it.

2. No one at Fenways says "thank you" when you get up for them.

3. Jed Lowrie's intro song is the Undertones' Teenage Kicks. My new favorite player.

Angels 77-40
Red Sox 61-48

Jim's writeup can be found here.

Posted: 8/18