Red Sox
Game

June 30, 2002

Atlanta Braves
vs.
Boston Red Sox

Today we decided to go to the Boston Red Sox game, a thrilling battle of our loveable Boston Red Sox versus their natural rival in the National League, the Atlanta Braves. Who could ever cheer for a team like the Atlanta Braves with losers like Gary Sheffield and Andruw Jones? Obviously a few idiots sprinkled amongst a sellout crowd of die-hard Red Sox fans. I even saw some real pioneers begin doing the Braves' tomahawk chop. It was like they thought the Braves were from Boston or something...

The Atlanta Braves until today were 11 and 3 in Fenway Park (since the beginning of Interleague play). Like they had a chance today... How could you against a line-up with such all-stars as Manny Ramirez, Shea Hillenbrand, Johnny Damon, and NOMAR!!! And who was on the mound for the Sox? Who else but Frank Castillo. If his ERA was a batting average, he would be more famous than Ted Williams!

Some would say it wasn't even worth attending this lop-sided battle, but Ojas managed to bargain down some grandstand tickets to $20 a person for six of us. They were $25 face value. For a $25 seat in Fenway these days you almost feel like you are watching the game on a 13-inch television... IN COLOR!!! Plus this way you save on your electric bill.

How did the game go? Well follow the story below while you view my beautiful pictures from my Canon Powershot A20 Digital Camera (TM).

Our fun Red Sox fans at the game: Kelly, Anjali, and Ojas. (Ojas is the guy... the one on the right.) Hey Anjali, you payed $20 to be at the game... smile for God's sake.

That's better! Also Ojas's cousin and cousin's friend were here also. They didn't pose for this stupid picture. Ojas's cousin was an Atlanta Braves' fan, being from Chatanooga... Good for him!

Here's the view from our seat. The little gray dots are players, not defects on my Canon Powershot A20 Digital Camera (TM).

Dude that's me with Kelly... Do I really look like that? Oh my god? Shoot me now.

Thus far, the game has taken a typical Red Sox turn... they're losing 3-0. The all-star-strewn Red Sox line-up has managed 2 hits in 5 innings off some no-name pitcher from the Braves. Go Red Sox!!! I'm sure they'll come back.

It's the 7th inning stretch. And everyone is singing God Bless America solemnly, except me, I'm taking pictures.

Here's a zoomed view of the diamond. That's zoomed! The 2nd-baseman is Lou Merloni... that's Framingham Lou Merloni! He was car-pooling with me today.

Here comes strike three! Oh wait it's the Red Sox pitching, it's like ball five.

After a miserable first six innings the Red Sox hit 2 home runs in the 7th and a home run in the 8th by NOMAR to make it 3-3. The Red Sox are sure to win now, they can't blow it this late in the game! They just can't. It's not like them.

After the great comeback to push the game into extra innings, the invincible Red Sox relief pitching gives up 4 runs in the 10th.

The Fenway faithful stream out of the stadium to get ahead of the traffic. Red Sox fans... always thinking ahead.

Down 7-3, Ojas is ashamed to be wearing his Red Sox cap. Growing up all his life in Chatanooga as a Braves fan, he finally totally converted to the Red Sox side... Just in time Ojas!

Would the Atlanta Braves fan please sit down, please sit down.

Well, the Red Sox did it again! After a pathetic beginning, they gave us hope... they tied the game, and in the bottom of the 9th, tied 3-3, Shea Hillenbrand hit a 410-foot fly ball to the only part of the Fenway Park which is further away than 410 feet. And in the 10th inning, Urbina (who just missed being an All-Star, unbelievable) gave up 4 runs. The way the Red Sox lost this one would lead one to think that there was almost like a curse on the Sox. Imagine that!