First time ever: I finish watching the final NCAA first round game, and flip on the Red Sox, after midnight. We're playing Hanshin. The game started at 11:15 or so. It's now 1 AM, and we're only in the 4th. Papi and Drew have donged.

The background noise is nuts. The fans are constantly singing and chanting. Joe and Dale Arnold seem to be ignoring it. I guess you have to after a while, it just never ends.

Amalie Benjamin is blogging all through the night here.

We lead 5-4 in the 4th, as Buchholz comes out of the game. And Snyder comes in and gets out of it. Tigers leave 'em loaded, 5-4 after 4.

Loads of pictures from this game here.

Castiglione with a guest in the booth. The old announcer for the Ceiba Restaurant Lions. I mean, Seibu Lions. He's got a translator. This is funny, because while the translator does his thing, Joe does the call of the play in front of him, while we hear Japanese talking in the back. Joe asks how the fans are so coordinated with their cheering. Guy says there are a few leaders, and a drummer. Now Joe asks what the most popular team in Japan is. Guy says "New York Yankees," to which Joe laughingly goes, "No, no, no, no, no, no..." Literally that many No's. Very un-Joe-like. The guy quickly covers himself after Joe and the translator have informed him he made the wrong answer, and he says, "and Boston Red Sox." As if Joe's prayers were answered, it's a 1-2-3 inning, the fastest of the game by far. Joe says goodbye, translator says hi to mom in Easton, Mass., and that's the end of that.

1:25 AM: Now Youk singles in a run. 6-4 us in the sixth. And I go to bed.
Pics in this post courtesy AP and Reuters.