BOSTON — The Red Sox sold out 96-year old Fenway Park for the 455th consecutive regular-season game on Wednesday afternoon, tying the Cleveland Indians' major league record.

"I have not seen anything but sellouts since I've been here," Boston manager Terry Francona said before the game against Baltimore. "Think about it: That's unbelievable. That's the norm. I hope we don't ever get in a situation where we take it for granted. I know our organization doesn't."

Francona's first season as Red Sox manager was in 2004, when the team won its first World Series in 86 years.

The consecutive sellout streak started on May 15, 2003, when Pedro Martinez faced Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers. The defending World Series champions will break it against AL East-leading Tampa Bay in their next home game next week.

Cleveland set the mark at Jacobs Field from June 12, 1995 to April 2, 2001, winning two AL pennants during that span.

"It's cool to be able to come home from a road trip and play in front of a sellout crowd every night," said Boston right-hander Tim Wakefield, who has been with the team since 1995. "Not a lot of teams get to do that."

Ironically, the park was only about half-filled when the rare, weekday afternoon game started at 1:37. Most schools in the area are back in session, which led to the smaller than usual crowd at the beginning, though attendance figures are based on tickets sold.

Fenway has the smallest seating capacity in the majors, just 36,984 for day games when two sections of the center-field bleachers are covered with black material to help the hitters' background. It seats 37,400 for night games.

The attendance was 37,373 for Wednesday, the 67th sellout this season.