The wearing of the red

Red Sox officials are asking fans coming to Fenway for tonight's game to wear red as a show of support for the team. That could be a bit confusing, since Indians fans are also known to wear red. "I'm just glad we don't have to deal with those stupid towels,'' said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, evidently unimpressed by the sight of 44,000 fans in Jacobs Field waving their white linens.

The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Bill Mueller, who won an AL batting title while with the Red Sox in 2003, when he batted .326. But he will always be remembered here as the man who combined with Dave Roberts to save the Sox season three outs away from a four-game sweep by the Yankees. With the Sox down a run, 4-3, Kevin Millar drew a walk from Mariano Rivera. Roberts entered the game as a pinch runner and stole second. Mueller singled up the middle, Roberts scoring. David Ortiz homered in the 12th to win it, and the Sox were on their way to winning four straight.