Celebrating Sox, Dominican Republic
Fans turn out for watch party in Lawrence
LAWRENCE — Latin music boomed from speakers as baseball fans packed into a popular downtown restaurant here Saturday to watch the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays in an exhibition spring training game from the Dominican Republic.
The watch party, hosted by the Red Sox at Terra Luna Cafe, served as both a celebration of the upcoming baseball season and the team’s deep ties to the Dominican Republic, where it has historically recruited some of its superstars.
Red Sox pennants and banners adorned the popular Dominican-owned café on Essex Street, the heart of downtown.
The late-afternoon game played on TVs and on a large projection screen. Clustered around tables, fans raised their arms over their heads and cheered when the Sox jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
Fans took turns standing for pictures beside a pair of World Series trophies from the Sox’ triumphs in 2004 and 2018. Some snapped selfies with Tessie, one of the team’s mascots.
State Representative Frank Moran, who has lived in Lawrence since he emigrated from the Dominican Republic when he was 8 years old, said the Red Sox trip to the country is a special moment for baseball fans not just in Lawrence but around Greater Boston, which has one of the largest Dominican populations in the country.
“This is a big deal for us to have such a big organization as the Red Sox coming into our community to celebrate,” Moran said. “It’s a really good day for them to be here and support the Dominican community. I’m so grateful for them.”
Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña, who was born in Santo Domingo, recalled the Dominican stars of the 2004 Red Sox who helped deliver Boston fans their first World Series championship in 86 years: David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, and Manny Ramirez.
“That’s history and will never be forgotten,” De Peña said. “Sometimes one man can move the whole team, but that group, that brotherhood ... it’s magic.”
And even though Ortiz retired in 2016, he is still No. 1 in the minds of many young baseball fans in Lawrence. As De Peña spoke outside the event, an 8-year-old boy walked up and De Peña asked him who his favorite player is.
“Ortiz,” the boy said with a smile, and De Peña laughed.
“If you ask everybody, it’s ‘Papi, Papi, Big Papi, Big Papi,’ ” De Peña said.
Saturday’s game at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo served as a homecoming for some current and former Red Sox players, including Martinez and Ortiz, who threw ceremonial first pitches ahead of the game, and current top players Rafael Devers and pitcher Brayan Bello, who last week signed a six-year extension with the Red Sox for $55 million.
The Red Sox and Rays will face off for a second exhibition game there on Sunday.
The team’s visit to the Dominican Republic is part of MLB’s World Tour Series, which resulted from the most recent collective bargaining negotiations between the league and the Players Association as players expressed their desire to play with their big league clubs before their friends and families in their home countries.
MLB had more than 100 players from the Dominican Republic on major league rosters on Opening Day last year.
In Lawrence, waitresses dodged fans as they carried drinks from the bar while visitors filled their plates with fried chicken, sausage, tostones, and pastelitos at a buffet set up along the windows looking out onto Essex Street.
More than 250 fans attended the watch party, and the Red Sox gave out more than 400 free tickets to games at Fenway on April 10 and 11.
The atmosphere became quiet and fans rose to their feet when Grammy-nominated singer Manny Cruz began to perform the Dominican national anthem, with some in the restaurant singing along. The excitement ramped up as the game got underway, and the crowd erupted in cheers when Ceddanne Rafaela drove in a pair of runs on a double to left field in the first inning.
A couple hours later, in the bottom of the ninth, the crowd was on its feet cheering and waving Dominican flags as pitcher Luis Guerrero, another Dominican native, protected the Red Sox 4-0 lead to end the game.
Alberto Muñoz, 36, attended with his wife, her mother, and a friend. A former college player, Muñoz said the game has played a large part in his life since childhood.
He was born in the United States but lived in the Dominican Republic for a few years as a young child. He said he played little league baseball at a field near the stadium where the Red Sox are playing this weekend.
“It’s a part of our culture, even going back to the islands,” he said. “We grew up playing baseball, our parents, my grandfather taught me how to play baseball, so it’s passed down through generations.”
Marlene Paulino, 34, came with a group of friends to enjoy drinks and food and cheer.
“We’re here for the Red Sox and they’re playing in our hometown, which is so great,” Paulino said. “We’re thrilled to be here and celebrate our culture and celebrate the American dream.”