BOSTON -- Braves rookie reliever Kevin McGlinchy had a hard time hiding his grin Friday afternoon in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park, where he used to come as a kid from nearby Boston suburb Malden, Mass.

"I'm in a good mood because I'm home," said McGlinchy. "I'll have a little bit of butterflies. It'll feel like Opening Day again. I've been really, really looking forward to it."

McGlinchy pitched at Fenway one time for a tryout with the Red Sox his senior year in high school but was passed over in the draft by Boston.

"I didn't really know how good I was," McGlinchy said. "I'm glad (the Braves) picked me. It's always fun to play for your hometown team, but it would probably be a lot tougher playing here. Coming home and everybody asking you about your performance, good or bad."

McGlinchy spent Thursday night at home with his family and then ate a pregame lunch Friday of a Steak Bomb Sandwich from Big A's Sub Shop, where he used to eat before Little League games.

McGlinchy reserved tickets for 18 friends and family. Teammate and Concord, Mass., native Tom Glavine had dibs on most of the Braves' tickets, accumulating 80 for Friday's game from 13 teammates.

Mike Remlinger, the first-year Braves reliever from Plymouth, Mass., grew up a Red Sox fan, too. This is the first time he will have pitched at Fenway since he was a college All-Star pitcher from Dartmouth.