Tonight, the Red Sox return to the diamond following their series opening debacle against the rival Yankees, where they were soundly beaten, 9-3. “Turncoat” Jacoby Ellsbury, booed by some fans, will be yearning to repeat his first game performance (where he crushed the baseball). Yet the story of Wednesday’s game (okay, the pre-game) will be a special guest. Boston Marathon men’s champion Meb Keflezighi will be on hand to throw out the first pitch before Michael Pineda and John Lackey face off (first pitch at 7:10 p.m.)

Keflezighi became the first American man in 31 years to win the Boston Marathon on Monday, when he overcame the odds and an extremely talented field to win in a personal record time of 2:08:37.

Undoubtedly, he will be welcomed as a conquering hero by the Fenway Faithful, and rightfully so. Of all years to win the marathon, Keflezighi did it one year removed from tragedy. It was fitting achievement on an uplifting day.

Still, while Boston will claim him as their own (despite his Eritrean ancestry and San Diego home), New York has as much reason to adore the 38-year-old runner as Boston. Some might forget, but Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon in 2009, breaking another long American drought of 27 years.

So it’s ironic that of all teams who are in town, it’s the New York Yankees. Status as Keflezighi’s most ardent fans can be one more thing for the Red Sox and Yankees to battle over in their never-ending baseball rivalry. Okay, perhaps that’s a little bit petty, but then again many of the Sox-Yankees subplots are a little petty. Isn’t that basically the story with fans holding it against Ellsbury for seeking a higher paycheck?

And hopefully, Keflezighi does slightly better at throwing the first pitch than another famous runner did. I mean, of course, Carl Lewis (who also had a terrible rendition of the national anthem).