NEW YORK, 22 October 2004 — The Boston Red Sox crushed the New York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback victory over their archrivals by four games to three in the American League Championship Series.
The Red Sox set up a World Series showdown with the St. Louis Cardinals or the Houston Astros after becoming the first team in major league baseball to overturn a three-game deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
“It’s very amazing,” said Boston manager Terry Francona.
“We had to show up and win the game we were playing. It came down to tonight and we played a very good game.”
Johnny Damon stroked two homers and drove in six runs for Boston, who took a 6-0 lead after two innings before cruising to victory.
The Yankees appeared to have the series in their pockets after a 19-8 drubbing of the Sox in Game Three at Fenway Park. But Boston rallied for two extra-inning wins to send the series back to New York.
David Ortiz clubbed a two-run homer in the first off starter Kevin Brown to open the scoring. Brown was replaced in the second after loading the bases and Damon greeted reliever Javier Vazquez by drilling a long homer into right field, making it 6-0. Derek Jeter had an RBI single in the third for New York before Damon belted a two-run homer in the fourth to stretch Boston’s advantage to 8-1.
Lowe struck out three batters and walked one and was replaced after six innings with an 8-1 lead, despite throwing only 69 pitches.
Pedro Martinez relieved him and gave up an RBI double by Bernie Williams and a run-scoring single from Kenny Lofton.
Mark Bellhorn, though, recorded Boston’s fourth homer in the eighth off Tom Gordon to make it 9-3. Orlando Cabrera’s sacrifice fly in the ninth accounted for Boston’s final run.
Cardinals Win in 12 Innings to Set Up Decider
Jim Edmonds thumped a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the hosts St. Louis Cardinals a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros Wednesday, forcing a seventh and deciding game in the National League Championship Series.
The best-of-seven encounter is tied 3-3, with Game Seven again at Busch Stadium.
Edmonds drilled his one-out shot off Houston reliever Dan Miceli into the right field seats to send the sell-out crowd into a frenzy. It also prompted his teammates to mob the game winner at the plate.
The Cardinals will pit starting pitcher Jeff Suppan against Clemens, with the winning team going to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees starting tomorrow.
Julian Tavarez tossed two scoreless innings of relief and collected the win after Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen pitched three frames, blowing the save in the ninth.
Miceli allowed the winning homer in the 12th and took the loss after Houston closer Brad Lidge delivered three perfect innings, striking out five batters.
