1986 ALCS Game 5 vs Angels
One swing from the brink of elimination turned certain defeat into an immortal legend.
The 1986 American League Championship Series Game 5 stands as one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in Boston Red Sox history. Played at Anaheim Stadium against the California Angels, this contest saw the Red Sox overcome a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to force a sixth game, keeping their World Series hopes alive after being on the brink of elimination.
The game is defined by Dave Henderson's legendary two-out, two-strike home run off Donnie Moore, which turned certain defeat into an improbable victory. It remains a pivotal chapter in the franchise's long narrative of near-misses and dramatic resurrections before their eventual 2004 breakthrough.
- Date:
- October 12, 1986
- Venue:
- Anaheim Stadium
- Series Status:
- Angels lead 3-2
- Key Moment:
- Dave Henderson's 9th-inning home run
- Final Score:
- Red Sox 7, Angels 6 (11 innings)
- Winning Pitcher:
- Bruce Hurst (started), Bob Stanley (relief)
- Series Outcome:
- Red Sox won series 4-3
Lore & Background
By Game 5, the Red Sox had lost three straight games to the Angels and faced a daunting deficit in the bottom of the ninth. The atmosphere was suffocating; a loss would end the season. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Angels' closer Donnie Moore had struck out Rich Gedman. The next batter, Dave Henderson, fouled off several pitches before lining a ball into the right-field seats, instantly shifting the momentum of the entire series.
The Red Sox did not stop there. After surrendering runs in extra innings, they managed to score two more runs in the bottom of the 11th, securing a 7-6 victory. This game is often cited as the moment the 'Curse of the Bambino' seemed most likely to be broken, only for the team to falter in Game 6 against the New York Mets later that month. The emotional whiplash of this single night encapsulates the unique pain and ecstasy of Red Sox fandom.
In Their Own Story
The air in Anaheim was thick with humidity and the scent of defeat. Two outs. Three strikes away from a season ending in silence. Donnie Moore stared down Dave Henderson, the count hanging heavy in the balance. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the final out that would send the Angels to the World Series. Then came the crack of the bat—a sharp, clean sound that echoed differently than any before it. The ball soared over the right-field fence, a golden arc against the stadium lights. For a split second, silence reigned, followed by an eruption of noise from the Red Sox faithful. Henderson rounded the bases, not just scoring runs, but resurrecting a dream that had been buried alive.
Reader's Guide
This game occurred during the 1986 American League Championship Series when the Boston Red Sox faced elimination at Anaheim Stadium. Trailing 3-2 in the series and down 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox staged a miraculous comeback. With two outs and the bases loaded, Dave Henderson hit a go-ahead home run off Angels closer Donnie Moore to take a 6-5 lead.
The Angels tied the game in the top of the tenth, sending it into extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th, the Red Sox added two more runs to secure a 7-6 victory, forcing a decisive Game 6 back in Boston. The game is remembered for Henderson's clutch performance and the sheer improbability of overcoming such a deficit with two outs. It stands as a defining moment of resilience, though the series ultimately concluded with a heartbreaking loss to the New York Mets in the World Series.
Did You Know?
- Donnie Moore was so devastated by giving up Henderson's home run that he tragically took his own life years later, adding a somber layer to the game's legacy.
- Dave Henderson had been acquired by Boston just weeks prior in a trade from the Seattle Mariners and became an instant hero.
- The Red Sox were one strike away from elimination before the bottom of the ninth rally began.
- This victory forced Game 6 back at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox famously lost after leading two games to none in the World Series later that month.