Neil Diamond’s appearance at Fenway Park on Saturday was not planned in advance.
The singer flew to Boston on Saturday and called the Red Sox an hour before the game to ask if he could sing “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the eighth inning on Saturday, the Red Sox said.
“Sweet Caroline” has been played at every game at Fenway Park since 2002, and the Red Sox were playing at Fenway for the first time since the Boston Marathon bombings on Monday.
After Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” rendition that electrified the crowd, the Red Sox, who had been trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, took a 4-2 lead in the bottom half of the frame. They held on for a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.
“Thank you, Boston!” Diamond said before taking the field. “What an honor it is for me to be here today. I bring love from the whole country.”
After he belted out “Sweet Caroline,” the Fenway faithful chanted “USA” as Diamond left the field.
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