The 2004 ALCS: Red Sox Reversal and Baseball Immortality

Introduction: A Rivalry Reaches Its Peak

Few rivalries in sports are as bitter and deeply rooted as that between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. For decades, the Yankees had dominated not only the Red Sox but the entire Major League Baseball landscape, winning 26 World Series titles by the start of the 2004 season. The Red Sox, meanwhile, had not won a championship since 1918 and carried the burden of the so-called “Curse of the Bambino,” which began when Babe Ruth was sold to New York in 1919.

When the two teams met in the 2004 ALCS, it was more than just a clash of elite clubs — it was a chance for the Red Sox to exorcise decades of demons and finally dethrone their greatest tormentors. What followed was not only historic, but transcendent.

Series Overview: Yankees Jump Ahead Early

Games 1–3: New York Domination

• Game 1 (Yankees 10, Red Sox 7): Curt Schilling, the prized Red Sox acquisition, took the mound despite an ankle injury. The Yankees pounced, led by Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams. Despite a late Boston rally, New York took the opener.

• Game 2 (Yankees 3, Red Sox 1): Jon Lieber shut down Boston, outdueling Pedro Martínez. The Yankees took a commanding 2–0 series lead heading back to Fenway Park.

• Game 3 (Yankees 19, Red Sox 8): In a shocking blowout, the Yankees pounded the Red Sox, scoring 11 runs in the first four innings. Matsui and Alex Rodriguez starred, and Boston’s hopes appeared all but dashed as they fell behind 3–0 in the series.

No team in MLB history had ever come back from a 3–0 series deficit. The Red Sox were on the brink of elimination — and of another chapter in their long legacy of heartbreak.

The Comeback Begins: Games 4–7

Game 4 (Red Sox 6, Yankees 4 — 12 innings)

Down 4–3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox rallied against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Kevin Millar walked, Dave Roberts pinch-ran and stole second — in one of the most iconic plays in Red Sox history — and scored on a single by Bill Mueller to tie the game. In the 12th, David Ortiz crushed a walk-off two-run homer, keeping Boston alive.

2004 ALCS Gm 4: Yankees vs. Red Sox

Game 5 (Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 — 14 innings)

Once again, Ortiz played the hero, delivering a walk-off single in the 14th. The Red Sox bullpen held the Yankees scoreless for the final eight innings, with gutsy performances from Mike Timlin, Alan Embree, and Derek Lowe. The comeback was beginning to feel real.

Game 6 (Red Sox 4, Yankees 2)

Curt Schilling returned to the mound with a sutured ankle tendon in what became known as the “Bloody Sock” game. Pitching through visible pain and bleeding, Schilling delivered seven masterful innings. Mark Bellhorn’s controversial three-run homer (originally ruled a double) and Schilling’s grit tied the series 3–3, sending it back to Yankee Stadium.

Game 7 (Red Sox 10, Yankees 3)

The Red Sox stunned the Yankees in the Bronx. Johnny Damon, who had struggled all series, erupted with two home runs and six RBIs, including a grand slam in the second inning. Derek Lowe, pitching on two days’ rest, shut down the Yankees for six strong innings. The Red Sox completed the impossible — becoming the first team in MLB history to come back from a 3–0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

2004 ALCS Gm7: Red Sox advance to the World Series

Key Players and Moments

• David Ortiz: Big Papi hit .387 with 3 HRs and 11 RBIs, including two walk-off hits. He was named ALCS MVP.

• Curt Schilling: His bloody sock performance in Game 6 became legendary — a symbol of toughness and redemption.

• Dave Roberts: His steal in Game 4 ignited the comeback and became one of the most pivotal plays in Red Sox history.

• Johnny Damon: After a cold series, he delivered in Game 7 when it mattered most.

• Red Sox Bullpen: Combined for 21.2 scoreless innings in Games 4–6, keeping the team alive.

• Terry Francona: The first-year manager managed the pitching staff masterfully and helped keep morale high even at 0–3.

Aftermath and Legacy

Red Sox Complete the Job

The Red Sox carried their momentum into the World Series, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in four games to capture their first title since 1918 and officially “reverse the curse.” The team went 8–0 after falling behind 0–3 in the ALCS.

2004 ALCS Highlights

A New Chapter in the Rivalry

The 2004 ALCS permanently altered the landscape of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry. It marked the end of Yankee dominance and ushered in a new era where Boston emerged as a perennial contender, eventually winning additional championships in 2007, 2013, and 2018.

Cultural Impact

The comeback wasn’t just a sports story — it became a symbol of resilience. The 2004 Red Sox were immortalized in books, documentaries (like ESPN’s Four Days in October), and countless fan memories. “Don’t let us win tonight,” Kevin Millar had warned before Game 4. They didn’t — and history was made.

Conclusion: The Greatest Comeback Ever

The 2004 ALCS was more than a baseball series — it was a saga of belief, redemption, and defiance in the face of destiny. The Red Sox, long haunted by nearly a century of failure, rewrote their story in seven unforgettable games against their greatest foe.

No team had ever done it before. No team has done it since.

The 2004 Red Sox didn’t just win — they changed everything.