Mike Yaz is in his first match at Fenway Park

BOSTON – In his first game at the baseball stadium, his grandfather was called home for 23 years, San Francisco Giants champions Mike Yastrzemski dominated the fourth round on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox at a time that could not have been programmed. better. The solo shot was the 238th Yastrzemski-led race at Fenway Park and the first since Carl Yastrzemski went deep against Moose Haas of the Milwaukee Brewers on July 31, 1983.

Mike did not take long to feel the story as he entered Fenway Park before Tuesday's game. Memories came back all. As a child, raised in the Boston area, searching for the local team, absent from the fact that his grandfather was an icon of the city, the youngest, Yaz, thought back to all the games he had attended at Fenway, from 1999 Run Derby to the World Series takes place in 2004 and 2007.

He thought of all the times he'd spent with his family at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox had retired his grandfather's number 8 in 1989.

"Playing here is cool and I see it as part of my job and something I've always wanted to do, it does not really overwhelm me," Yastrzemski told the media ahead of Tuesday's game. "Doing it in a setting where I have so many good memories with my friends and family and that I can bring them here, is special."

At the announcement of his name, Yastrzemski was applauded by the Fenway crowd. He hit his first goal and stepped in his second goal, scoring the first leg of the San Francisco match on a brace from Stephen Vogt.

Boston knows the name of Yastrzemski.
@ mikeyaz18 | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/1wCO3yATAX

– San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 17, 2019

The Yastrzemski family does not usually meet in the season, but the series in Boston will be the exception. Elder Yastrzemski, who rarely appears at Fenway Park with the exception of a first pitch before a World Series match, met his grandson on the field before Tuesday's game, giving Mike tips to play Green Monster. He told the Boston Globe Monday that he planned to do a television interview with his grandson before Tuesday's game, but that he would then leave to watch on TV.

"We have everything planned for Wednesday," said Carl about family plans for Fenway. "We planned to go on Tuesday, but decided not to go in. He will have enough people to disturb him and maybe it will be a little easier for him if I do not watch him."

In an interview with NESN on Tuesday, Carl said that the best way to describe the magnitude of this moment is to compare him to the season when he was named American League player and led the Red Sox to an appearance in the World Series against the Cardinals.

"The only way for me to do any kind of comparison would be to compare season 67 right now," he said. "To play 700 games in the minor leagues, he always said that he would succeed, I think that's what I'm most proud of, because he's sticking to it and not getting it." not a big child, which is more important. "

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a 14-year-old veteran, decided to play that game, putting Mike in first place in the same left field as his grandfather.

"To be honest, of course, I wanted him to play on the pitch tonight, he's nodding in. It will be a cool moment," Bochy said. "I'm sure for many people here it will be a great reminder of all the beautiful things that his grandfather has done, reminding them of special memories, and I'm delighted to have done so." I had the chance to meet Carl today and he went into the clubhouse and we sat down and talked for a while, so it's cool for everyone.Fans here in Boston, but we too. "

"This will be the first time since 1983 that the name" Yastrzemski "will be announced," said Carl, now 80 years old. "It will definitely be moving, seeing it coming to Fenway Park where I have been playing for 23 years, so that his name is announced, it will be a great emotion for me."

The young Yastrzemski grew up as a big fan of the Red Sox, citing among his favorite players Trot Nixon, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez. Mike admitted that it was only in high school, at the age of 15, that he was starting to realize all that his grandfather had accomplished in his hometown.

"When I was 23 years old, this is the shocking moment, it was that, all my life, he was going to Fenway Park every day," Yastrzemski said. "That blew me away – I can not imagine 23 years of Major League Baseball experience – it's at this point that it really started."

Yastrzemski will welcome over 150 family members and friends, including friends from his alma mater, St. John's Prep, in Danvers, Massachusetts. While Tuesday is a dream come true, it's been a long time for Mike, who spent six years in the The Baltimore Orioles minor league system before qualifying in San Francisco this year, where he hits .265 / .324 / .509 with 19 homers. His slow ascent to the majors helped him appreciate a little more this moment.

"Through the long journey that has taken me to get here, I have begun to understand what things are important and what things are not, so I can stay focused on the things that have really taken over. the importance and on the story that must unfold here, "said Yastrzemski. I said. "It's special for my family and my grandfather instead of keeping it on me."

At this point, when Mike Yastrzemski first hears his name on Fenway's speakers over 58 years after his grandfather played his first game in Boston, he hopes to take a moment to enjoy everything that it took to get to that moment.

"That's the only thing I'm not sure of how it's going to affect me, all the rest I understand, and hearing that will probably be moving, but that's probably the time I need to to enjoy my pleasure. " the time and say "it's special," Yastrzemski said. "It's not special for me. It's special for anyone who has seen my grandfather play and the Red Sox play on the story. They have a connection with him because of his historical value to the organization. Although it's special for me, I have to leave it special for everyone too. "