MANCHESTER — Merrimack's Paulette Laurie, wearing her No. 13 Boston Red Sox T-shirt in support of Carl Crawford, was supposed to be spending Independence Day recovering from knee-replacement surgery.

She and husband Bob felt fortunate that the scheduled procedure was postponed — and trading their July 4 tickets didn't cost them a chance to see Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury make simultaneous minor-league rehabilitation appearances Wednesday night in the Queen City.

“I'm ecstatic, actually,” Paulette, 59, said before the New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Portland Sea Dogs in 11 innings, 11-10, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. “We have season tickets, but we switched them since I didn't think I'd be able to walk the stairs. My surgery was pushed back until August. Once we found out Crawford and Ellsbury were playing, we scrambled to get tickets.”

The Lauries weren't alone in their dash to secure tickets for the 41st home game of the Fishers' season. Crawford and Ellsbury continued their climb back to the big leagues by starting for Boston's Double-A baseball affiliate.

It was an unprecedented professional baseball event — at least for Manchester. And fans realized it.

Several fans said they purchased tickets hours before game time. The crowd of 8,544 ranked fifth on the Fishers' all-time single-game attendance list. The record of 8,903 was set May 26, 2009, when pitcher John Smoltz made a rehab start for the Sea Dogs.

“The atmosphere was electric,” Crawford said after playing 6 1/2 innings and finishing 2-for-4 (RBI). “A lot of Boston fans here tonight to show their support. It was good for us.”

“It's a celebration of our country today,” Fisher Cats president Rick Brenner said. “To have the Red Sox' affiliate in town and two Major Leaguers in the park, it's a nice treat for anybody.”

The treat could get even better. It's likely Portland plays with an all-Red Sox outfield for Game 2 of the series tonight. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

In addition to Crawford in left field and Ellsbury in center, rehabbing Ryan Sweeney (toe) is expected to join the Sea Dogs.

Fans lined up at the gates two hours before first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Many of them donned Ellsbury's jersey.

“She made me wear the shirt,” Milford's Victor Flores, 52, said of donning Ellsbury garb while pointing to wife Kari, 45, and laughing with 11-year-old son Stefan. “Not too many Red Sox can steal bases. Jacoby's really fast.”

“And it doesn't hurt that he's good looking, too,” Kari said. “It's unfortunate that he's rehabbing and not with the (Red Sox). But we get to see him this way.”

Ellsbury — no stranger to the Fishers' ballpark during his days as a minor-league prospect — was the star fans wanted to see. Children and adults, men and women, all were eager to catch an in-person glimpse of Ellsbury, on the 60-day disabled list with a right-shoulder subluxation.

He had just 26 at-bats before sustaining the injury April 13.

“(New Hampshire is) always a fun place to play. I definitely remember it here. It's been a few years now. … The fans have been great to me,” said Ellsbury, who received a loud first-inning ovation, and went 1-for-5 in 7 1/2 innings.

Yet to play with Boston this season, Crawford has been rehabbing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, and recovering from off-season left wrist surgery.

“I just want to see how comfortable they are (against higher-level minor league competition),” Dan Milone, 29, of Haverhill, Mass., said of the recent Major League all-stars.

Ellsbury and Crawford hit first and second, respectively, in Portland's lineup.

Auburn's Noah Mounce, 9, said he expects Ellsbury to hit for power once back with Boston. The boy's father, Dennis, said he expects Ellsbury to provide the Red Sox with speed on the bases and in the outfield.

Many fans still consider Crawford a question mark. His first season with the Red Sox a year ago is widely considered a disappointment.

The Lauries have faith Crawford — a $142 million man — can turn it around.

“To see (Crawford and Ellsbury) together, in the outfield at their positions,” Paulette said, “it's great to see how they're progressing.”

What's Next: Game 2 of the Sea Dogs-Fisher Cats series is tonight (7:05). It's likely the Sea Dogs feature an all-Red Sox outfield of Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Sweeney, expected to join the team on a rehab assignment as well.

mthaler@unionleader.com