Patriots’ Day matinee: Red Sox host Shohei Ohtani and the Angels at the 127th Boston Marathon as fans endure a rainy afternoon to catch the Japanese pitching-hitting sensation
- The Red Sox traditionally host a day game on Patriots’ Day, a national holiday
- Fans admitted that Ohtani is not coming to the Red Sox because of Boston weather
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In addition to the 127th running of the Boston Marathon, Monday’s Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts also marked a day game for the Red Sox, who hosted Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels in a soggy, soggy matinee.
Patriots’ Day, which takes place on the third Monday in April, was created in 1894 to observe the battles of Lexington and Concord – preludes to the Revolutionary War. The state holiday is also celebrated in Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut and North Dakota, but it is in Massachusetts where the occasion is celebrated with various sporting events.
In addition to the Boston Marathon, the Red Sox traditionally host a day game on Patriots’ Day.
This year, that game came against Japan’s two-way sensation Ohtani, who eliminated fellow American Masataka Yoshida in their first game at Fenway Park on Monday, before the game was postponed in the third inning due to rain. Ohtani was pulled for a reliever when the game resumed later on Monday in Boston.
Ohtani is on the verge of becoming a free agent after the season, and while some Red Sox fans hoped he could be lured to Boston, Monday’s downpours seemed to dampen those hopes.
Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (17) follows through on his single for catcher Reese McGuire
Ohtani pitches Monday against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game
Shohei Othani strikes out his compatriot, Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida
“Ohtani definitely signing with another California team after this lmao,” one fan wrote.
“And the Red Sox are out of the Ohtani sweepstakes,” another added.
According to speculation in recent months, Ohtani could see a contract close to $500 million.
And just in case there’s any reason to doubt Ohtani’s worth, Monday served as a good reminder: The 28-year-old started 2 for 2 at home plate, scored one run and struckout three batters in the first two innings.
He did yield a sacrifice RBI to Boston’s Rob Refsnyder in the bottom of the first inning – just the second run Ohtani gave up this season.
As is often the case in April in Massachusetts, Monday was rainy during the Sox-Angels tilt
Fans are pictured in soaked Fenway Park ahead of Monday’s Angels-Red Sox game
The tarp was pulled across the infield in Boston on Monday in the third inning of action
The Fenway Park grounds crew pulls the tarp off the field for Monday’s game