BANGOR – There is a theory circulating around the Bangor area that “there is no curse.”

Even after the Yankees took a 2-1 series lead Saturday night, the speculation that bad luck is associated with the Red Sox selling Babe “The Great Bambino” Ruth 83 years ago holds no bearing.

That is what several area residents said while watching the series unfold Saturday.

“There is no curse,” Bangor resident Martin Bordick said from a barstool at the Ground Round during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. “It’s just to appease the Red Sox fans when they lose.”

Bordick said he, like many Red Sox fans, likes to root for the underdog.

“All I’ve done is pray,” Bangor resident Geno Savoy said.

The duo watched the game at the packed Ground Round with several TVs giving them play-by-play from behind the bar and an 8-by-8-foot TV in the corner of the room.

Pitcher Roger Clemens, a former Red Sox legend, celebrated his final start at Fenway Park with the win Saturday against the Sox. During the fourth inning, Clemens’ actions caused an uproar at the restaurant.

“Clemens [nearly] hit one of the batters and people were yelling and screaming,” assistant general manager Doreen Salls said. “It was actually a little too crazy for baseball.”

Even after Saturday’s 4-3 loss, Red Sox fans remained optimistic.

“Curse? There is no curse,” said Bangor resident Derek Watson, who was wearing a Pedro Martinez T-shirt.

Watson’s brother Dan Watson and friend Dave Utterback, also sporting Red Sox attire, watched the game at the Sports Arena, where about half of the people were wearing some sort of Red Sox apparel.

Hudson residents Kevin Cash and Amanda Curtis were wearing Red Sox jerseys they purchased this week.

Cash was wearing Martinez’s number and Curtis, who drives around in a car bearing the words “Yankees suck,” had Nomar Garciaparra’s No. 5.

“I bought mine today,” said Cash on Saturday. “I was born in New England and the Red Sox are the team.”

There were reports that Yankees fans were seen out in Orono, where there are students from New York attending the University of Maine, but elsewhere they were scarce.

“I don’t think we have any Yankee fans in the room,” said Salls. “I think there would be a lot of catcalls if there were.”

The playoffs have brought people into places that cater to sports fans.

“It’s been really, really busy,” said Salls. “It started filling up [Saturday] around 4 p.m., and it’s been crazy ever since.”

The Sports Arena, located on outer Hammond Street, is a great place to watch the game, said Curtis.

“It’s kind of rowdy,” she said. “There are a lot of TVs and Red Sox fans.”

Because Saturday’s game was close, most people stayed until the end, Salls said.

Even though “Red Sox fans are pretty tough,” Salls admitted she knows that the players need to forget about the curse for the Sox to win.