The Boston Red Sox played their first game back in Fenway Park Saturday since the tragic bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday that took the lives of three and injured many more.
The Sox won the emotional game 4-3 over the Kansas City Royals with late-inning heroics.
Outfielder Daniel Nava hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to put Boston ahead. They held off the Royals in the ninth to win the contest.
However, the game is not what will be remembered from the day. The ceremonies both before and throughout the game are what grabbed the attention of the Boston crowd and the millions watching around the nation.
The national anthem was performed with police officers in the outfield and an American flag that completely encompassed the iconic “Green Monster” in left field.
The familiar Red Sox home uniforms had a different look that day. Instead of reading “Red Sox” across the front, the jerseys sported the city’s name in bright red on the chest.
David Ortiz, playing in his first game of the season, spoke to the crowd right before first pitch.
“This is our f***ing city, and nobody is going to dictate our freedom!” Ortiz said emphatically to rally the crowd.
He finished his speech with a simple message for all of Boston – “Stay strong!”
The most memorable event took place in the middle of the eighth inning.
The Fenway tradition is to sing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” during this time. A surprise awaited the stadium when Diamond stepped onto the field to perform the song live.
“What an honor it is for me to be here today,” Diamond said. “I bring love from the whole country.”
He then performed the song with the crowd singing in the background.
With the city standing together and a victory for the team from Boston, indeed, as the song goes, good times have never felt so good.
“So good! So good! So good!”