Carter Still on Cloud Nine

PAWTUCKET- As a ball player you always remember your debut in the major leagues. For the PawSox' Chris Carter, his first taste of major league action is so fresh he's still relishing the flavor.

"It's awesome", said Carter, "I really feel good. I feel like, instead of just getting to the big leagues, now I want to stay, I want to work on everything."

Carter got his chance to play for the Red Sox Thursday night against Tampa Bay, inserted into left field after Coco Crisp was ejected for being involved in the bench clearing brawl between the two clubs in the second inning. Carter made the most of his opportunity, going 2 for 3 and playing an error-less left field.

"I was upset about what happened with Coco" Carter said, "I had that aggressive mentality. I really didn't think, 'Hey this is my first major league game.' It kind of sunk in in the eighth and ninth inning."

Getting the chance to play for the Red Sox in left field at Fenway was also a special moment for Carter, who idolized Ted Williams as a kid.

"Ted Williams was here. Carl Yastrzemski was here. All the history, all the great games.. All that energy that happened at Fenway Park. I got to stand out there."

Carter was also amazed at how difficult, and unique, it can be to play left field at Fenway.

"It's a different place" said Carter, "I could see the ball so well because I was so close to the batter. "

Carter was born and raised in Northern California and still resides there in the off season. It really meant a lot for him to have his family witness his major league debut in Boston and his last two games back with Pawtucket. It was particularly important for Carter to have his paternal grandfather on hand, whose health problems have restricted vision in recent years. And Carter did not disappoint, launching a two-run homer to deep right in the fifth inning.

"He worked two jobs, got about 4 hours a sleep a day for 30 years" said Carter, "He's had a tough time the last couple of years. He was able to see my first hit and that was awesome. I'm really glad he was there."

Chris Carter has now dipped his finger into the batter of what is life in the major leagues. He now hopes to soon eat the fully baked cake.