Red Sox fans all smiles after down-to-wire win

Red Sox fans celebrate outside Fenway Park after the win over the Los Angeles Angels last night. (Erik Jacobs for the Boston Globe)

Last night's thrilling Red Sox game not only launched a wild celebration inside Fenway Park, it propelled giddy fans into the streets to savor the victory that sends Boston on to the American League Championship Series.

Running on caffeine, naps, and adrenaline following Sunday night's lengthy 12 innings, fans flowed out of Fenway last night with smiling faces, following the Sox's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels with a game-winning hit in the ninth inning.

Art Sturgis and his son, Mike, of Boxborough , said they were glad they scored tickets for last night's game instead of Game 3. "We almost had tickets for last night [Sunday], but I'm glad we had them for tonight," Art Sturgis said. "It was great."

To prepare for last night's game, Art said, he caught up on his sleep. "I'm the driver, so I rested and napped," he said, as he called his son in Cincinnati to tell him about the win.

Luke McNeice, a software engineer from Australia, was caught up in the celebration after the game, waving his foam finger.

"It was fantastic," McNeice said. "It was my fourth game. Four times - four wins."

"It's always good when Boston wins," said McNeice, dressed in what he called his "Boston blazer," with red, white, and navy blue stripes.

The smiles that filled Fenway Park also filled the streets around the park.

"Unbelievable. It was one of those experiences you'll always remember," said John Preuiti, a Suffolk University police officer from Medford.

"I'm glad I was home for last night's [Sunday's] game and out for tonight's," said fellow Suffolk police officer, Joe Beaudette, of South Boston.

"One of the best games I've ever seen in my entire life," said Derek Freitas, 28, from Bridgewater. "An amazing finish."

Freitas and 28-year-old Brian Giampietro - both vocational instructors - were decked out in matching Red Sox jackets.

"We got rewarded," Freitas said.

"It's a fan's dream," said Effie Halaby, of Methuen. "It left you on the edge of your seat. I'm speechless really."

Added Joe Green, a carpenter and cook from Marblehead: "It was a tight game. It was fantastic. I put on the one golf glove to keep warm - I wore it for good luck."