The keyword phrase "patriots day game" functions as a compound noun. In this grammatical construction, the word "game" serves as the head noun. The term "Patriots Day," itself a proper noun, acts as a noun adjunct or attributive noun, modifying the head noun to specify the occasion of the game.
This compound noun refers to the annual Major League Baseball game hosted by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The event is held on Patriots' Day, a civic holiday in Massachusetts observed on the third Monday of April. A defining feature of this game is its exceptionally early start time, typically 11:10 a.m. ET, which is scheduled to coincide with the running of the Boston Marathon, whose route passes near the stadium.
The use of "Patriots Day" as a modifier is essential for its specific designation. It isolates this particular athletic event from any other game that might take place on the holiday, identifying it as a singular, traditional institution. Therefore, the term signifies more than just a date on a schedule; it represents a key cultural event integrated into the civic traditions of Boston.
