Yesterday's victory marks the first step on that journey towards ending an 82-year championship drought. The win also marks the first time this year the Sox have prevailed in a game started by someone other than Pedro Martinez.

The team's newest acquisition, center fielder Carl Everett, who had already endeared himself to Sox fans with his anti-Yankee comments voiced during the off-season, went 3-for-4 yesterday with two home runs, earning himself a standing ovation from the sellout crowd.

Everett's first home run of the game, which came in his first-ever at-bat at Fenway, highlighted a 10-run Boston rally that chased Minnesota starter Joe Mays.

Just as encouraging for Red Sox fans yesterday was the effort of starter Ramon Martinez, Pedro's brother, who pitched well after a rough outing in his first start of the season last week.

Against the Twins, Ramon went five innings, allowing just one run and earning the win.

The Sox have now crept within one game of .500, a mark that can be reached today when Boston puts its longest winning streak of the season (two games) on the line in the second game of a three-game series with the Twins.

Having scored an Opening Day win in convincing fashion, the Red Sox may once again have raised expectations among their masochistic fan base. Whether they can live up to their own promise remains to be seen.