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Sports

Petaluma's Gomes Returns to 'Where I Grew Up'

Jonny Gomes and the Red Sox visit Oakland for the first time this year. Gomes helped lead the A's to an improbable Western Division championship run last season.

Petaluma's hometown hero is headed home for a weekend he says will be like no other.

Jonny Gomes returns to the Bay Area for the first time this year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, who open a three-game series tonight in Oakland.

Gomes, who last season helped lead the A's to their improbable Western Division championship run, is having another great year with Boston.

Gomes acknowledged that returning to the Bay Area is a special experience, especially after what the underdog A's accomplished last season.

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“That's where I grew up,” Gomes told MassLive.com.

“I went to A's games when I was 12-years old all the way up. I wore an A's hat last year. But I wore an A's hat for about 20 years. I used to be super pumped to go back before I played with the A's. Just the opportunity to play in the stadium where I grew up watching. But then, on top of what happened last year, it'll be cool."

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Gomes, 32, is in his 11th year in the majors with his fifth team. He's hitting .235 with six homers and 22 RBI, but is having a much better year than his stats show. He's tied a franchise record with three pinch-hit home runs, including two walk-off blasts.


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