On Friday, I made my way to my first live game of the year. My beautiful wife, exceptional daughter (Ruby), Sesame Street's "Ernie" (my daughter's seemingly favorite toy), and the "Life is Good" cap also made the trek.

We sat in Section 17-grandstands, set back between homeplate and the Red Sox dugout. Terrific seats, surrounded by even better fans. Not sure, if it was my daughter's presence but the crowd shared many smiles with me (us). It is Friendly Fenway, if your a Sox fan.

We got to our seats early, wanting to document the occasion for the baby book. Ruby was very observant and curious. She looked at the crowd and the field. She heard the crack of the bat and the joyous, loud fans. But she seemed especially interested in the announcer. Whenever she heard him, she would stop and gaze upward in search of the voice from above. It was indeed special watching her react to it all.

The crowd was very excited. It remained so even after the Tigers scored a run in the first. No worries. The Sox rallied and scored two in the next half.

Ruby's eyes darted back and forth not sure where all the clapping was coming from nor where to focus her attention. Action was all around.

Manny got hurt, I hardly noticed, too entranced by what my daughter may be doing. I looked up long enough to realize that this could be bad. Was this cap a farce? Could the season end on my daughter's first game? For surely without Manny, the Sox would indeed struggle. He got back in the box. Phew! (He later would leave the game. I wouldn't find out his staus until returning home. X-rays were negative.)

During the bottom of the fifth, Ruby started to tire from the stimulation. She and I headed to the back of the stands and I proceeded to "bounce" her in her BabyBjorn. By the bottom of the sixth she was fast asleep.
In fact, one fan said to me, "You have a gift. In Section 20 there are three ladies trying desperately to put there kids to sleep, but they're all screaming!"

"Indeed I do." Leaving the ambiguous statement lingering. He walked off laughing. I continued to smile at my little girl.

We went back to our seats and watched another inning, when the crowd again erupted at a play. Ruby awoke, my wife and I started to feel guilty. We headed to the car, with the Sox up two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sitting in the parking lot we listened as Mike Timlin struggled. No Keith Foulke? Is he injured? What is going on? Should we have left? I've never left a game early before.

Oh no, not Embree. Sure enough Alan Embree entered the game and it sounded as though he was firing them in there. Hmm, could I have been wrong about him. Then Curtis Leskanic in for the quick save. Sox win, 5-3. The "Life is Good" cap is a strong 13-0.

Things are different in Boston. The team is now doing the little things to win. Laying down (or at least attempting) bunts. My family witnessed a double-steal (Kapler and Gutierrez). In fact, on this night, the Sox won without a home run. And yes, they won with defense too.

Boston begins its toughest stretch of the season - nine games against the West's best: Anaheim, Texas and Oakland. Tonight, the reliable Curt Schilling takes the mound. Anaheim has a very potent lineup lead by MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero. Schilling has got to have his best stuff.

I doubt Ruby will remember much, but I assure you her father will never forget. I can't wait until her next game, and the one after that, and...

Reader comments: Do you remember your first live Red Sox game? Share your memories.

E-mail this entry to a friend