BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: An American flag is dropped over the Green Monster before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: A young fan looks on before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: An American flag is dropped over the Green Monster before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and actor Jake Gyllenhaal arrive on the field before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch together before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Gyllenhall; Jeff Bauman
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and actor Jake Gyllenhaal warm up before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch together before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Gyllenhall; Jeff Bauman
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman throw out a ceremonial first pitch together before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Gyllenhall; Jeff Bauman
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and actor Jake Gyllenhaal are introduced before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch together before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Gyllenhall; Jeff Bauman
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal salutes the crowd after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch with Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Gyllenhall
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox turns an unassisted double play as Michael Saunders #21 of the Toronto Blue Jays slides during the sixth inning of a game on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dustin Pedroia; Michael Saunders
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Clay Buchholz #11 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the fourth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clay Buchholz
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Josh Rutledge #32 of the Boston Red Sox slides into second base as he avoids the tag of Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays after hitting an RBI double during the second inning of a game on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Rutledge; Troy Tulowitzki
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Travis Shaw #47 of the Boston Red Sox reaches for an overthrown ball from third baseman Josh Rutledge as Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays records a single during the eighth inning of a game on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Travis Shaw; Kevin Pillar
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Darwin Barney #18 of the Toronto Blue Jays high fives Ryan Goins #17 after scoring during the eighth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox game on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Darwin Barney; Ryan Goins
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Koji Uehara #19 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the eighth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Koji Uehara
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after scoring during the eighth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jose Bautista
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 18: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out during a pinch hit appearance during the ninth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Ortiz
As is tradition in Boston every year on Patriot’s Day, the Red Sox hosted an 11:05 AM game at Fenway Park against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday. The early start time – the only morning game in Major League Baseball – coincides with the Boston Marathon. Runners pass just a few blocks away from Park as they approach the end of their 26.2 mile journey. Although the Red Sox weren’t able to pull out a victory over Toronto, the mood was festive and cheerful inside Fenway. Before the game, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who is playing Bauman in the upcoming movie, ‘Stronger,’ threw out a ceremonial first pitch together.
It’s hard not to think about where we all were three years ago on this day, in the immediate aftermath of the bombing. Living through that week was surreal for everyone involved. I found myself thinking about it a lot yesterday.
