1986 ALCS Game 5
From certain defeat to miraculous victory in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all game.
Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series stands as one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking chapters in Boston Red Sox history. Played at Fenway Park, this contest pitted the Red Sox against the California Angels in a winner-take-all showdown for the pennant. The game is defined by a spectacular comeback from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning, transforming a certain defeat into a moment of pure elation that propelled the team toward the World Series.
- Opponent
- California Angels
- Venue
- Fenway Park, Boston
- Series Status
- Red Sox lead 3-2 (Winner advances)
- Key Player
- Dave Henderson
- Deciding Moment
- 9th Inning Home Run
Lore & Background
However, history took a sharp turn when Dave Henderson stepped into the batter's box. After fouling off several pitches, Henderson launched a two-run homer over the Green Monster, instantly flipping the script and sending Fenway Park into a frenzy. The Angels managed to score one run in the top of the tenth, but Boston held on in the bottom half, securing a 7-6 victory. This moment not only saved the season but also cemented Henderson's legacy as an unlikely hero who delivered when the pressure was at its absolute peak.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Fenway Park was thick with smoke and tension, a suffocating blanket of dread that had settled over the stands since the ninth inning began. Two strikes hung in the balance for Donnie Moore, his arm heavy but his eyes sharp. The pop-up sailed toward center field, a lazy arc that promised silence and an end to the dream. But then, Dave Henderson was there. He didn't just catch it; he made a diving play that seemed to defy gravity, sending the ball back into play with a thud that echoed through the stadium. In the next at-bat, the bat cracked like thunder. The ball soared over the left-field wall, shattering the silence and replacing despair with a roar that shook the foundations of the park.
Reader's Guide
The game is iconic because it prevented the 'Curse of the Bambino' from claiming another victim at the final hurdle. It showcased the resilience that would eventually lead to a pennant win, even though the World Series outcome was tragic. For Red Sox fans, Game 5 represents the ultimate high before the ultimate low, a moment where hope seemed infinite and the impossible suddenly became reality.
Did You Know?
- Dave Henderson's home run came off Donnie Moore, who would tragically end his life years later due to the lasting emotional toll of this specific pitch.
- The Red Sox had been down 3-2 in the series and were one strike away from elimination before Henderson's heroics.
- This game is often cited as the turning point that allowed Boston to win the ALCS, though they ultimately lost the World Series to the Mets.
- Henderson was not a regular starter for most of the season but became the central figure in this historic comeback.