2004 World Series Game 4 vs Cardinals

Lore & Background

Entering Game 4 of the World Series, Boston needed only one win to seal history. Facing a formidable Cardinals lineup featuring Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen, the Red Sox relied on their pitching staff to keep the game scoreless through the early innings. Derek Lowe took the mound with seven full days of rest following his dominant ALCS Game 6 performance, allowing him to dominate the Cardinals' offense in a masterful complete-game shutout. The atmosphere in St. Louis was tense for the home crowd, while a small but vocal contingent of Red Sox fans watched with bated breath, knowing that one more out stood between them and redemption.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Busch Stadium hung thick with the ghost of eighty-six years of waiting, a suffocating silence that only broke when Derek Lowe delivered his final pitch on short rest. In the dugout, David Ortiz stared at the scoreboard, his jaw set against a history that had mocked him for so long. Then came the moment: Edgar Renteria lined a ground ball toward third base. Bill Mueller fielded it cleanly, one hop, and fired to first. The umpire's arm snapped up—'Out!'—and instantly, the tension shattered into pure pandemonium. Cheering erupted from the rare Red Sox contingent in St. Louis, but the real explosion happened a thousand miles away in Boston, where the simple act of grounding out transformed a routine baseball play into the closing chapter of a long, painful legend.

Reader's Guide

This contest was the exclamation point on an impossible run: the first time a team overcame a 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, capping it with a historic sweep. While the Cardinals boasted a fearsome lineup featuring Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen, they were silenced by a Boston rotation that refused to yield. The game's lone offense arrived in the fourth inning when Johnny Damon launched a two-run homer off Jeff Suppan, but the true story was the suffocating defense. Derek Lowe, pitching on just three days' rest after his heroics against the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS, held St. Louis scoreless through six innings before the bullpen took over. When Bill Mueller recorded the final out, it wasn't just a win; it was a cultural reset that instantly redefined the franchise from 'lovable losers' to modern dynasty.

Did You Know?

• This marked the first time since 1905 that a World Series champion swept their opponent without losing a single game at home; however, sweeps had occurred frequently in the intervening decades by teams like the 1976 Reds
• Derek Lowe started Game 4 on seven full days of rest, having pitched Game 6 of the ALCS against the Yankees on October 19 before returning to the mound for the World Series finale on October 27.
• Bill Mueller, who fielded the final out to end the drought, had previously played for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants before arriving in Boston via trade.
• The 2004 title ended an 86-year championship drought, which was then the longest active streak of any major professional sports franchise in North America.

The End of the Curse and a Historic Comeback

The 2004 season marked the 104th year in franchise history for the Boston Red Sox, culminating in an achievement that shattered decades of heartbreak. Under the guidance of new manager Terry Francona, the team posted a 98–64 record, securing the American League wild card spot despite finishing three games behind their rivals, the New York Yankees. The postseason journey began with a dominant sweep of the Anaheim Angels, setting the stage for a dramatic rematch against New York in the ALCS. Facing an insurmountable 3–0 deficit and trailing late in Game 4, the Red Sox achieved the impossible by becoming the first team in major league history to force a seventh game after losing the first three. They ultimately defeated the Yankees in seven games before sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. This victory ended an 86-year championship drought, capturing their first title since 1918 and fundamentally altering the narrative of one of baseball's most storied franchises.

Offensive Dominance and Statistical Supremacy

The Red Sox constructed a lineup that was arguably the most potent in Major League Baseball during the regular season. Their offense led the entire league in nearly every major category, including runs scored with an impressive total of 949, doubles with 373, and on-base percentage at .360. The team's ability to generate power was evident in their slugging percentage of .472 and an on-base plus slugging mark of .832, the highest in the majors. Furthermore, they accumulated a league-leading 2,702 total bases and topped all teams in plate appearances and batting average on balls in play. This statistical dominance translated seamlessly into October, where the Red Sox led all postseason teams in both batting average and on-base percentage. Such consistent offensive production provided the necessary firepower to overcome early-season inconsistencies and defensive struggles, serving as the engine that drove them through a grueling playoff run to finally secure the World Series title.

Strategic Overhauls and Roster Construction

The path to a championship began with significant personnel changes during the off-season following the 2003 disappointment. The front office parted ways with manager Grady Little, hiring Terry Francona instead, while aggressively pursuing key free agents to bolster their pitching staff. Notable acquisitions included ace starter Curt Schilling, obtained via trade from Arizona for multiple players, and closer Keith Foulke, signed to a lucrative three-year deal. General Manager Theo Epstein further reshaped the roster at the July 31 trading deadline by dealing popular shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to Chicago. In return, Boston acquired Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz, alongside Dave Roberts from Los Angeles. These strategic moves addressed critical needs for depth and versatility, allowing the team to overcome injuries and inconsistency. The infusion of new talent helped the club win 22 of their final 25 games, transforming a struggling mid-season campaign into a playoff berth.

Turning Points in the Regular Season

While the regular season started with promise, the Red Sox faced significant challenges by mid-year, including injuries and defensive lapses that saw them trail New York by over eight games. A pivotal moment occurred on July 24 during a high-stakes game against the Yankees, where Bill Mueller hit a dramatic home run off Mariano Rivera to erase a five-run deficit. This victory was marred by an infamous brawl between Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek but served as a psychological turning point for the squad. Following this surge in momentum, the front office executed crucial trades that revitalized the lineup. The combination of renewed confidence from the July win and the immediate impact of new acquisitions like Roberts and Cabrera propelled the team to a hot finish. They capped off their regular season at Fenway Park with over 2.8 million fans in attendance, setting the stage for an unprecedented postseason run.

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