The significance of the Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry is unique.
This is evident from today's attendance at George Steinbrenner Field:
Previous preseason games against the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Orioles usually attracted only four to five thousand people, and at best six to seven thousand on weekends. Today, the playoff game against the Red Sox drew over ten thousand fans, filling Steinbrenner Field to capacity.
Apart from this, the number of media and reporters on the sidelines doubled. A large number of media crowded the media seats on the sidelines, their camera lenses flashing constantly.
They come here today not only drawn by the classic Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry but also for another important reason:
This game marks the Major League debut of Lin Guanglai, who has been hyped up all offseason by professional evaluators. The Red Sox countered with their farm system's talented hitter Andrew Benintendi as the lead-off batter.
