Greatest moment in Boston Sports history

April 15th, 2013 A tragic day in Boston as the Boston Marathon had two explosions next to the Finish line killing three people on a horrible day in Boston.   The Boston Red Sox were a team with one thing in mind A World Championship.  The Boston Red Sox were playing for a spot in the World Series and it was a crucial game 2 in the ALCS. 

  The Sox found themselves trailing the Detroit Tigers 5-1 as the bottom half of the 8th began.  After a groundout to short, Will Middlebrooks stepped into the batter’s box with the Redsox needing a spark.  He was 0-2 with a strikeout and was not having the best game.  Give them a spark he did though.  He ripped a liner to shallow left down the line and started the Sox up with a one out double.  I was immediately glued right back to my TV with all new types of hope and excitement. ´What a way to give your team a spark when they were in need.´  I said to my uncle. Despite being about 10 years old, I still remember the chills I got as I got a feeling of something big is about to happen.  

Then one of my favorite Sox players of all time Jacoby Ellsbury stepped up to the plate. The top of the order came up and I was beyond pumped. My heart began to beat harder as the count went to 3-2.  I thought oh how big would this be with 1 out and two on that is a solid chance for a run at least.  Then ball four for the second time that game he was walked.   Then my favorite Hawian came up. Shane Victorino stepped up to the plate.  I was so pumped up, I did not even realize I was now standing up with the hair on my neck standing and my adrenaline sky high.  He was already 1 for 2 – how big would another single be right here I thought to myself and was telling my uncle.  The count was 1-2 and I was begging to get nervous.  Then he went down swinging on a breaking ball and it got him on the 2-2 count now 2 outs and I was shook.   Then a clutch hit from Justin Pedroia, after taking the first pitch hit an impeccable ground ball splitting first and second which loaded the bases for my idol David Ortiz.  I am shaking writing this because of this moment.  This is every kid’s dream, including mine still.  

The Tigers then brought in a new pitcher Joaquin Benoit.  My body was shaking.  The first pitch fastball came in and that ball leaving his bat the crack of the bat was a sound like no other.  My uncle and I were jumping around as the chills rolled down my neck.  Joe Buck’s call was amazing and all I could think about was the electricity in Fenway.   All I could do is envy Big Papi. What he just did is every kid’s best nightmare.   The feeling of joy and support for a city who dealt with such tragedy and adversity less than a year prior.   The best was yet to come as the Red Sox were just getting started.  The thought of giving David Ortiz a fastball in this spot still shocks me.  I remember the sweat in my palms and the adrenaline in my body. I slept none that night.  They  would have been surmounting a  2-0 series without this moment and possibly too far behind to mount a comeback.  I had just gotten over the heartbreaker in the Stanley Cup that year too.  I have done my best to watch every Red Sox game possible since this moment.  

      After they made it all the way to a World Championship, I made sure I attended the parade.  I just sat there, never been more happy and I was able to grow a love for the game of baseball. Unlike any other, I hit a walk off my 8th grade year when we were down by 1 to win and I went home and I remember just thinking about this moment and I thank Big Papi for finding my love for baseball and to this day everytime I watch the  clip of the grand slam, I always tear up and get the chills. I was emotional and happy at this moment. Even though I wasn’t there I still felt the breeze and the smell of the fried food, the cotton mouth I had and I was breathless. I will always have the poster that says and I scream  BOSTON STRONG.