Red Sox News

Red Sox Get Harsh Welcome At Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK (AP) ― Jason Varitek has heard it all before and was prepared for anything -- even some choice words during a parade.
 
The Red Sox captain and the rest of Boston's contingent at the All-Star game were showered with boos Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, treated to vitriol usually reserved for an important AL East game in September.

But Varitek said the heckling actually began hours before the game, during the All-Star parade in Manhattan.

"I had my kids with me, so there was probably a few choice words that we wouldn't like a 6- and an 8-year-old to hear for an hour," the catcher said. "But it's part of what goes on in the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox."

No one got it worse than Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who got a harsh welcome when he entered in the eighth. The brash right-hander skirted around whether he or longtime Yankees closer Mariano Rivera should finish the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, hinting Monday he wanted the honor then saying Rivera should get the nod.

The reliever's comments led one New York tabloid to splash "Papelbum" across its back page Tuesday.

The crowd of 55,632 chanted "Overrated" with Papelbon on the mound in the eighth, and sounded almost pleased when he allowed Adrian Gonzalez's go-ahead sacrifice fly.

The one Boston player to earn any cheers was J.D. Drew, who tied it at 2 with a two-run homer in the seventh and was selected the game's MVP.

But Drew heard derisive chants when he entered to play right field in the sixth.

"It was brief to say the least," Drew said of the cheers. "It was a little weird. I heard about it when I got back to right field for sure. Then as the game went along, I think they forgot that I hit a home run, and it picked up again."

Boston's seven players were the most of any AL team, and the Red Sox also had manager Terry Francona in the dugout along with a half-dozen of their coaches. It made for a surreal scene in the Yankees clubhouse, with Boston's stars getting dressed where some of the Yankees' standouts usually prepare for games.

The Yankee Stadium crowd got started early, tuning up when Boston's contingent was introduced during pregame ceremonies. They reserved their loudest boos for when sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were announced.

Ortiz, who missed the game with an injured left wrist, playfully put up his fists as jeers rained down from the crowd.
 
"That's how the fans are here, you know," Rivera said after the American League's 4-3 victory in 15 innings. "It was great."

Boston won the division title last year on its way to its second World Series title in four years, finishing two games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. The Red Sox lead the East at the break again this year, six games ahead of third-place New York.

"It's what we expected," Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia said of the reception. "That's it."

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