2004 ALDS Game 3
The night David Ortiz delivered a walk-off hit that saved the season.
The 2004 American League Division Series Game 3 stands as a pivotal turning point in Boston Red Sox history, halting the Anaheim Angels' momentum and keeping Boston's championship dreams alive after dropping the first two games. Played at Fenway Park, this contest saw the Red Sox overcome a deficit to win in extra innings, forcing a decisive Game 4 and reigniting belief that the franchise could finally escape its long shadow.
- Opponent
- Anaheim Angels
- Venue
- Fenway Park, Boston
- Series Context
- ALDS (Boston leads 2-0)
- Key Moment
- David Ortiz Walk-off Home Run in Extra Innings
- Outcome
- Red Sox win 8-6
Lore & Background
The climax arrived in the bottom of the tenth inning when David Ortiz stepped to the plate against Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez. With two outs and the game tied, Ortiz connected on a pitch, sending a sharp single through the infield that scored the winning run. The explosion of sound at Fenway Park was deafening, signaling not just a win, but a psychological shift in the franchise's destiny. This victory kept their season alive, setting the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in sports history against the New York Yankees in the subsequent ALCS.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Fenway Park tasted of stale beer and nervous sweat. The scoreboard glowed red: Angels 6, Red Sox 5. Bottom of the tenth. Two outs. Ortiz wiped his hands on his uniform, staring down the pitcher's mound. The crowd held its breath, a collective silence that felt heavier than the humidity. Then, the crack of the bat echoed like a gunshot. The ball sliced through the infield, beating the throw to home plate and ending the game in an instant. For a split second, no one moved. Then, the stadium erupted, a seismic wave of joy crashing through the stands as history began to rewrite itself.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was the 2004 ALDS, where the Red Sox faced the Anaheim Angels in a best-of-five series. After losing the first two games on the road, Boston hosted Game 3 at Fenway Park. The Angels struck early and held a lead late into regulation, threatening to force a Game 5. However, the Red Sox rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning.
The defining moment came in the bottom of the tenth when David Ortiz hit a walk-off single off Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez. This dramatic victory gave Boston a 3-2 series lead, putting them on the brink of their first ALCS appearance since 1986. The game is remembered for its high stakes, the electric atmosphere at Fenway, and the emergence of David Ortiz as a clutch performer who would become synonymous with breaking the team's championship drought.
This match is crucial because it prevented the Angels from mounting a comeback that could have derailed Boston's momentum. Instead, it propelled the Red Sox to win Game 4 and take the series, sending them to the ALCS where they famously overcame a 3-0 deficit against their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees.
Did You Know?
- David Ortiz hit his first career postseason walk-off hit in this game (a single, not a home run).
- The victory extended Boston's lead to 3-2 in the series, forcing the Angels to play a winner-take-all Game 4 on their home field.
- This was the first time since 1986 that the Red Sox reached the ALCS.
- Francisco Rodriguez, who gave up the winning hit, would later become one of the greatest closers in MLB history.