Red Sox fans circle opening day on their calendars looking forward to the event all winter, and this afternoon's season 5-3 win over the Pirates proved to be worth the wait.
The Red Sox scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead. The big hit was a three-run homer by Andrew Benintendi.
Sunny skies greeted fans and temperatures climbed to 49 degrees for the opening pitch, with 2016 Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello opposing the Pirates' ace, Gerrit Cole.
Prior to the game, the Red Sox shared the field with the Super Bowl Champion Patriots, including Dion Lewis, James White, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady, who threw out the first pitch.
Gronkowski, ever the prankster, "stole" Brady's jersey as the Patriot players greeted the Fenway faithful during their pregame appearance.
Numerous improvements have been made to Fenway Park during the off-season, including a new tavern, new seating and some new concessions.
Aramark, the park's concessionaire, recently released new menu items for the season, including a lobster melt with Muenster cheese and sliced tomato as well as surf and turf kebabs.
