Sox fans rise early for game Fenway-area bars serve up breakfast

BOSTON – Red Sox fans took their sausages with eggs and hash browns instead of peppers and onions and bars were opened so early they couldn’t even legally serve beer.

And that was just the start of a unique opening day for Boston, where fans rose before the sun to watch the Red Sox defeat the Oakland A’s in the land of the rising sun.

Bars around Fenway Park in Boston and elsewhere catered to big breakfast crowds as the season officially started in Japan at about 6:05 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.

In Bangor, Governor’s Restaurant drew a big crowd for a breakfast buffet from 6-9 a.m., hosted by all-sports radio station, WZON (620 AM) of Bangor.

Terry Boccelli, 47, of Stoneham, said she would have made the trip to Boston to watch the defending World Series champions, no matter what time of day or night.

“I could not wait for the Red Sox,” said Boccelli, who was at the Cask’n Flagon. “I have withdrawal all winter long.”

The area around the park was packed early Tuesday with cars and fans in Red Sox caps and jerseys. Just like a normal game day, the cheers began with the opening pitch, and the “Let’s Go Red Sox!” chants followed a few innings after.

But while bars opened earlier than usual, state law bans alcohol sales before 8 a.m.

“Coffee and breakfast instead of beer, kind of unusual,” observed Tony Massarotti, 48, of Watertown, who joined a large crowd who watched the game on the 90 HDTV screens at Game On, a sports bar attached to Fenway Park.

Mark Gillis, 41, an attorney from Reading, said he thought he was going to be in court first thing in the morning, but the judge moved the case.

“I was like, ‘yes!’ ” said Gillis, who packed his two sons and daughter into the car and headed for Game On. “I figured, what the heck, the opportunity to watch the Red Sox on opening day and still make it to school on time doesn’t come around very much.”

Oakland fans had it a bit tougher, as the game started at 3 a.m. there.