Yankees play 'Sweet Caroline' in Boston tribute

[April 17, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees paid tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombings by playing the Fenway Park favorite "Sweet Caroline" at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

Other teams around the majors did the same. The popular sing-along song has been featured at Boston Red Sox home games since 2002.

The Yankees honored Boston, home of their longtime rivals, by playing the Neil Diamond hit over the public-address system after the third inning against Arizona. Yankees fans sang along, and some people in the crowd wore Red Sox hats and jerseys.

"Thank you NY Yankees for playing 'Sweet Caroline' for the people of Boston," Diamond wrote on his Twitter page. "You scored a home run in my heart. With respect, Neil (hashtag)OneBoston."

A ribbon was shown on the scoreboard displaying the insignia of the Red Sox and Yankees and the words: "New York stands with Boston ... Pray for Boston."

There also was a pregame moment of silence. A message that read "United We Stand" showing the Red Sox and Yankees logos was posted on an electronic board atop the ballpark.

Earlier in the day, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it was time to "put the baseball teams aside" and recognize "we're all behind the people in Boston."

"Sweet Caroline" also was played at Marlins Park, Dodger Stadium and in Cleveland, where the Red Sox beat the Indians 7-2.

"That was a very classy touch," said Indians skipper Terry Francona, who managed the Red Sox for eight years.

[Associated Press]

AP Sports Writers Steven Wine in Miami and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

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