2004 ALCS Game 7
History rewritten as Boston erased a three-game deficit to slay the Yankees.
On October 20, 2004, Yankee Stadium hosted one of sports' most improbable climaxes. The Boston Red Sox defeated their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1986. This Game 7 victory capped a series where Boston achieved the impossible: becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
- Series Status
- Red Sox won 4-3 (after trailing 0-3)
- Location
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
- Winning Pitcher
- Keith Foulke
- MVP of Series
- David Ortiz
- Final Score
- 10-3
- Key Moment
- Curt Schilling's 'Bloody Sock' performance in Game 6 set the stage
Lore & Background
Game 7 was more than a baseball match; it was an exorcism of decades of heartbreak. The atmosphere at Yankee Stadium buzzed with hostility as the Red Sox, playing on enemy turf, dismantled the Yankees' lineup. The victory broke the psychological stranglehold New York held over Boston. When the final out was recorded, it signaled not just a trip to the World Series, but the end of an era of failure and the beginning of a new dynasty for the franchise.
In Their Own Story
The air in the Bronx felt heavy with eighty-six years of waiting. In the dugout, Red Sox players understood this moment would define their careers forever. As Keith Foulke secured the final out, a roar erupted from the traveling fans that seemed to shake Yankee Stadium's foundations. There were no curses left, only pure relief and joy as the team celebrated on the field where their dreams had died for generations.
Reader's Guide
This was the American League Championship Series, a battle for pennant supremacy between two of baseball’s most storied franchises. After falling behind 3-0 in the series, Boston achieved the unthinkable by winning three consecutive elimination games to force Game 7 at Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox offense exploded for ten runs, dismantling New York's pitching staff while their own defense held firm. Pedro Martinez started for the Yankees but struggled against the surging lineup, whereas Curt Schilling had already pitched through injury in Game 6 to keep his team alive. In this final battle, Boston’s pitchers shut down the opposition, and the offense never let up.
Remembered as the culmination of the greatest comeback in sports history, this victory broke the 'Curse of the Bambino' narrative that had plagued the franchise for nearly a century. It propelled the Sox into the World Series, where they swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first championship since 1918. Game 7 remains the ultimate symbol of resilience in modern baseball lore.
Did You Know?
- This was the first time in MLB history a team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
- David Ortiz hit walk-off hits in both Game 4 (home run) and Game 5 (single) of the series.
- Curt Schilling pitched Game 6 with a torn tendon sheath in his right ankle, leaving blood on his sock which became iconic.
- The Red Sox defeated the Yankees in the ALCS for the first time since 1999.