It's a day to savor at Fenway

You didn't need a crystal ball to see the future at Fenway Park yesterday. With the usual inhabitants away on a West Coast trip, a pair of Red Sox farm clubs -- Single A Lowell and Triple A Pawtucket -- invaded the ballpark for a day to play a minor league doubleheader.

For many of the participants, it was their first visit to Fenway. For some, it was a preview of glory days ahead. For most, it was as close to the majors as they will get without a ticket.

It was a sweet sweep for the organization. In the opener, Lowell scored three runs in the fourth inning off Middleborough's Tom Thornton to erase a 1-0 deficit and lift the Spinners to a 3-1 New York-Penn League decision over the Oneonta Tigers. The Spinners' victory featured a familiar name at the finish. Joshua Papelbon, the younger brother of Red Sox closer Jonathan, earned his 10th save, in relief of starter Justin Masterson (2-1).

In the nightcap, Haverhill's Carlos Peña's two-run homer in the eighth carried the PawSox to a 5-4 come-from-behind International League victory over the Rochester Red Wings.

The PawSox featured a veteran lineup, including several ex-Red Sox. Lenny DiNardo fared well in his latest rehab start, throwing three scoreless innings and allowing two hits. Willie Harris made up for a seventh-inning error with a single to set up Peña's blast. Craig Hansen's error led to a game-tying run in the sixth. Corky Miller went 1 for 4; Jermaine Van Buren picked up his 15th save; and Craig Breslow (7-1) got the win.

``This was great being here tonight," said Peña. ``I've always been a Red Sox fan and to hear the crowd . . . this was special. Special because my family is here tonight and to hit a home run to win the game, what can I say."

In the opener, Reid Engel, Manny Arambarris, Luis Exposito, Mike Chambers, and newcomer Ryan Kalish each had two hits for Lowell.

With one out in the fourth, Exposito (the first Spinner to hit one over the Green Monster in batting practice) doubled off the wall. Thornton hit Paul Smyth with a fastball and Kalish loaded the bases with his second infield hit of the game.

Chambers's bloop single to right scored Exposito. Smyth scored the go-ahead run on Ryan Khoury's sacrifice fly, and Engel's single brought home Kalish for an insurance run.

``I've been here many times," said Chambers, a native of Londonderry, N.H., who led Franklin Pierce to the NCAA Division 2 College World Series before being drafted in the 36th round by the Red Sox in June. ``I never had anyone cheer so loudly for a team I played for. It was a thrill."

Twenty-four hours before the game, Kalish wasn't even a member of the Spinners. Friday afternoon, he was in Florida helping the Gulf Coast League Red Sox defeat the GCL Dodgers, 11-2, for the league championship.

After the game, Kalish, along with first baseman Mike Jones, catcher Jonathan Egan, infielders Kristopher Negron and Chih-Hsian Huang, and pitcher Felix Doubront were told they were being promoted to Lowell for the remainder of the season, which ends Sept. 9.

``Getting called up to Lowell is great, but I never expected to be in the lineup," said Kalish. ``When the crowd cheered, I had chills."

Spinners manager Bruce Crabbe said the game was a wonderful experience, though his team might have been affected by the anticipation. ``I think the guys have been distracted a little, knowing it was coming up. But that's OK. This was special," Crabbe said.

The players did not get major league treatment -- the Red Sox clubhouse was locked and the players had to take their postgame showers at Boston University -- but it was a day to savor. Many brought cameras and had their photographs taken with the Green Monster in the background.

The Spinners' Zak Farkes, a former Harvard star, is no Fenway novice, having played there in the Beanpot baseball tournament. ``It's great to be on this field because so many great things happened here," said Farkes, a Boston native who has been to so many games he can't remember his first visit. ``My family has had season tickets to Fenway since I was 6 years old. We're part of Red Sox Nation."

It was Spinners catcher/designated hitter Jon Still's first visit to Fenway. ``I'm from rural Mississippi and I haven't played in front of many big crowds," said Still, a fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina State who spent last summer playing for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League.

``My host family said I would wind up drafted by the Red Sox," said Still. ``They said Fenway is the best place to play. They were right."