FORT MYERS, Fla. — They all wore No. 3 and every player on the Boston Red Sox and Boston College had the same name on their jersey, too.
This exhibition game Tuesday at JetBlue Park was all about Pete Frates.
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WHO: Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins
WHERE: Fort Myers, Florida
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
Frates had that number when he played center field at Boston College. Now 30, the man who helped inspire the Ice Bucket Challenge is stricken with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS.
Unable to speak, walk or move his arms, Frates couldn’t make it from his Boston home for this seven-inning game, which the Red Sox won 1-0.
Both teams lined up for a pregame ceremony, and the exhibition was played as a fundraiser for the Pete Frates No. 3 Fund. The jerseys will be auctioned.
“Pete’s health is deteriorating,” said his wife, Julie Kowalik.
The couple’s 7-month-old daughter, Lucy, and Frates’ parents joined her at the ballpark.
“I think it means more than I ever felt it would to physically be here for him,” Kowalik said. “Honestly, for him to see Lucy on this field might be one of the greatest joys of his lifetime.”
“We’re so excited to be here and Lucy, she’s taking part in her first spring training. I’m sure it’s the first of many.”
As Kowalik chatted before the game on the field in front of the first-base dugout, she was surrounded by dozens of players wearing her husband’s jerseys.
“I just spoke to him before we got here and I’m sending him pictures of Lucy,” she said. “He’s so happy for her to be here. For her to be here probably means more than for him to be here.”
When at Boston College, Frates played against the Red Sox in spring training.
Returning to Fort Myers to see BC take on the Red Sox brought back memories for Nancy Frates, Pete’s mother. He first played against the Red Sox in 2004 and by 2007 was a senior and team captain.
“I have to say this morning I started to reflect on 2004, which was Pete’s first year down here and the excitement,” she said.
“He was a freshman and being in the old Fort Myers ballpark, and just how the Red Sox, even back in 2004, were so inclusive and so welcoming of the BC families. And to have this happen is completely overwhelming, and we’re honored and we’re just full of gratitude.”
Frates very much remains a part of the Boston College baseball family. The school’s baseball media guide lists him as Director of Baseball Operations, a job he’s held since 2012.
Coach Mike Gambino said the current players know Frates well.
“He’s been with this team for five straight years and these boys are so close to him.” Gambino said.
The Red Sox have also become close to Frates.
“What an honor it is for the Red Sox to be able to salute someone who has so magnificently changed the world,” Red Sox executive vice president Charles Steinberg said.
Gambino said he’s learned a great deal from Frates.
“He has taught me so much about not just helping coach young men but to help raise young men,” Gambino said. “It’s about winning baseball games, but it’s also about raising young men.”
Clay Buchholz started with one perfect inning and Boston pitchers dominated the rest of the day in sweeping a pair of college teams, beating Northeastern 2-1 and edging Boston College 1-0.
Rick Porcello relieved Buchholz and retired six straight batters as the Red Sox staff combined on a one-hitter in the opener.
Wade Miley then threw two innings against BC to start a combined four-hitter.
David Ortiz struck out in both of his at-bats against Northeastern. Pablo Sandoval also was 0 for 2 and left fielder Hanley Ramirez got a hit.
Northeastern starter Aaron Civale struck out four in two innings. He fanned Ortiz and Ramirez to end the first and struck out Mike Napoli and Xander Bogaerts in the second.
The opener was tied after the scheduled seven innings and Boston won in the eighth on a throwing error.
In the second game, Jemile Weeks got two hits and scored the lone run. Rusney Castillo had a hit for Boston.
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