Happy Patriots Day!

Patriots Day is to the Boston Red Sox as Thanksgiving Day is to the Detroit Lions. Every year without fail, the Boston Red Sox host the annual Patriots Day game, which I believe is the only game in the Major Leagues that starts in the AM. They mentioned the all time record at the start of the Broadcast, and I believe the Sox are 60ish and 40ish all time, and apparently for a while they played doubleheaders. It's a pretty big deal. Even when the Red Sox stunk, the Patriots Day game sold out without fail.

This year, since the Boston Marathon was moved up an hour, they moved the start time up from 11 AM to 10 AM. I was up really late for various reasons last night, and rolled out of bed very tired and turned on the TV at 9:59 and heard the sweetest words ever: "This game was suppose to start at 10 this year, but the weather isn't cooperating, so the start time has been moved back to 12:05." Within seconds, the TV was off, the alarm was set to noon and I was sound asleep.

Things didn't start off so well. With one out in the first, old friend Orlando Cabrera came to the plate and deposited a Josh Beckett pitch over the Green Monster to put the Los Angelous Angels of Anaheim (Formerly the Anaheim Angels, California Angels, and Los Angelous Angels...) up 1-0. Vladamir Guerrero came up next, and Beckett hit him with a 96 mph fastball on the hands. Home plate umpire Rick Reed warned both sides, which is the first time I've ever heard of a starting pitcher (LAAA's Ervin Santana) being warned before he left the bullpen.

Beckett got out of the inning and the Sox batted around the order in the bottom half of the first and scored six runs. Ortiz went deep later on to make it 7-1. The Angels latter on scored a meaningless run in the 9th to make it 7-2.

Beckett was extremely impressive after hitting Guerrero. He scattered six hits over six innings, walked one and struck out five while only allowing the one run. He's been really good this year so far, 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA. Hopefully he doesn't have another second half melt down.

Coco Crisp didn't play, so he didn't wear 42. The Red Sox announced that this coming Sunday the team will have the planned festivities for Jackie Robinson Day, which will include Crisp, Ortiz and third base coach DeMarlo Hale wearing 42. P.S.- That game's against the Evil Empire.

By the way, Julian Tavarez hasn't pitched in forever because of the weather. Every time it rains, they push back his start. Fear not, after 12 days of waiting, automatic win day returns as Tavarez takes the mound Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.