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May 1, 2006 8:22 pm US/Eastern
Here's Johnny...and Dougie
by Dan Roche
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
Johnny Damon returned to Fenway Park Monday night for the first time since he signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees back in December.
He stepped to the plate at 7:12 PM. He was roundly booed at the beginning. He then stepped out of the box, tipped his helmet, and pointed to the different parts of the stands. The boos then changed to cheers. Damon flied out to right field.
Damon was roundly booed when he came out for batting practice, stretching, and when his name was announced as New York's lead-off batter.
Just re-acquired catcher Doug Mirabelli barely made it to the game. The Sox changed their line-up three times. Mirabelli was originally in the line-up early in the afternoon. Jason Varitek was later inserted because Mirabelli's plane didn't arrive until 6:48 PM. That's right. His plane didn't touch down at Logan airport until 6:48 PM. He changed into his uniform on the way over. He received a police escort over. Mirabelli was then added to the line-up at 7 PM. He was announced to the crowd and received a rousing ovation. In fact, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz did "fake curtain calls" out of the dugout because the crowd was so loud.
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