We did our best to spread the word on Sunday that Boston Police would be cracking down on debauchery outside Fenway Park during Game 7 of the ALCS, but let's face it: we're naturally curious. We wanted to see with our own eyes what the scene was like down by the ballpark, given the likelihood of stories running wild about who was going to take it too far: the crowd or the police.

Police had already put into action their plans to block off areas surrounding Fenway Park when Bostonist arrived at Lansdowne Street during the eighth inning on Sunday night. Lansdowne was closed to pedestrian traffic and bars or viewing areas in the area had been instructed to keep new potential patrons from entering for the duration of the game (following the plans that had already been announced). We're sure that the situation was the same on all of the neighboring streets, but we couldn't make our way around to find out for ourselves.

The scene in a nutshell: swamped with SWAT. We watched as a line of riot-geared officers two-wide, at least 25 rows deep, marched by. We were told by officers standing in the shadow of the Ted Williams statue by Gate B that we weren't allowed to take photos (right after we captured the image taken above). The police presence was intimidating - precisely the response we imagine that police officials were hoping to achieve.

We understand on a basic level the desire to nip any potential problems in the bud. Everyone remembers what happened after Game 7 of the ALCS in 2004. The city still has images of Victoria Snelgrove slumped on Lansdowne seared into its collective mind. No one wanted celebration in Boston to be laced with tragic death. Of course police must have felt trepidation before Sunday night's game.

We might have been inclined to go with it, acknowledging an overzealous need to prevent riots or chaos, had we not found ourselves standing outside Gate B with a crowd of less than 100 at the bottom of the eighth. It seemed as if we'd happened across the perfect compromise: we weren't outside Game On as we'd been the night before, but we were in an approved area that offered us partial sight of a television within the ballpark. We could see the Sox up at bat and we could cheer with the rest of the energetic but peaceful crowd.

Shortly before the third out, Gate B closed, effectively shutting out a crowd that wasn't trying to get in, just trying to watch and cheer and get as close to the action as a lot of ticketless team passion would allow.

The police and the organization was determined to keep any potential trouble at bay. But watching that green gate close, it felt for a moment that enthusiastic Red Sox fans just hoping to share in the magic of the night were intruding on a private party.

Photo by Victoria Welch. The views expressed are that of an individual Bostonist.