Remembering the more underrated moments, heroes from Red Sox’ 2004 ALCS comeback on 20th anniversary

Sunday will mark the 20th anniversary of the Red Sox' Game 7 win over the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

The 2004 ALCS brought several memorable moments that will forever live in Red Sox lore.

Everyone remembers Dave Roberts’s stolen base, Bill Mueller’s ensuing game-tying hit, and David Ortiz’s walk-off homer in Game 4. Ortiz’s heroics in Game 5 forever stamped him as a Red Sox icon. The bloody sock and Alex Rodriguez’s swipe of Bronson Arroyo’s glove in Game 6 brought even more drama to a series that had plenty. Johnny Damon’s two home run performance in Game 7, including his second-inning grand slam, helped seal the greatest series comeback in baseball history.

But there were many other key moments over the four games that helped the Red Sox take down the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, nearly every player on the roster making key contributions. As Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of Boston’s Game 7, let’s take a look back at some of the more unsung moments and heroes from the series.

Kevin Millar’s ninth-inning walk in Game 4

The play that really started it all came at the top of the ninth inning. Millar drew a five-pitch walk against Mariano Rivera to start the inning. All four balls Rivera threw were all inside, with the last one not even coming close to the strike zone. Of course, Roberts pinch-ran for Millar right after the walk before stealing second, and scoring on Mueller’s single up the middle.

Miller’s ninth-inning walk was part of an all-around solid series for him at the plate. He hit .250 with two RBIs in 29 plate appearances, including a double in the fourth inning of Game 6 that helped give the Red Sox the lead.

Trot Nixon’s hit-and-run in Game 5

The Red Sox entered the eighth inning of Game 5 trailing, 4-2. Ortiz quickly made it a 4-3 game, hitting a solo homer over the Green Monster to open the bottom of the frame.

Once again, Millar drew a walk and Roberts pinch-ran for him. As Roberts took a lead to steal, he didn’t steal second base. This time around, Nixon swung at Gordon’s 3-1 pitch as Roberts took off with no outs. Nixon hit a line drive to center, allowing Roberts to get to third base without a contest from Bernie Williams

That head start might have been the difference between the Red Sox tying Game 5 and being eliminated. Rivera was called in after the base hit and retired the first three hitters he faced. However, Jason Varitek hit a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Roberts to score and tie the game.

Tim Wakefield’s bullpen outing in Game 5

After allowing the series-winning home run to Aaron Boone in the previous season’s ALCS matchup against the Yankees, Wakefield got his moment to avenge himself in Game 5. With Boston’s bullpen practically depleted after losing 19-8 in Game 3 and needing extra innings to win Game 4, Wakefield ate innings and pitched shutout ball. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just a run and a walk in extras.

There was a moment where Wakefield found himself in some trouble, though. As Wakefield pitched to Varitek instead of his usual catcher, Doug Mirabelli, two of his knuckleballs went for passed balls in the 13th inning. The second allowed the Yankees to get runners in scoring position with two outs. Fortunately for Wakefield, Varitek held on when Ruben Sierra whiffed at a 3-2 pitch to end the top of the 13th.

Mark Bellhorn’s home run in Game 6

Perhaps overlooked with all the other dramatic moments in Game 6, the Red Sox’ nine-hole hitter provided the biggest swing of Game 6. After the Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Bellhorn hit a fly ball off a fan in the first row of the left field bleachers at Yankee Stadium off Jon Lieber. Initially, Bellhorn ran to second base for a one-run double, but was confused as he and many other members of the Red Sox thought his fly ball was a home run. Red Sox manager Terry Francona ran to the umpire crew questioning the call. As MLB hadn’t implemented replay at the time, Francona and the Red Sox hoped that at least one of the other umpires saw Bellhorn’s ball land for a home run.

After the umpire crew conferred with each other, Bellhorn’s double was ruled a home run, giving Boston a 4-0 lead. That was the first of two homers Bellhorn hit in the series, hitting 4-for-12 at the plate over the last three games of the series as he added a homer in the eighth inning of Game 7.

Keith Foulke’s bullpen performances in Games 4-6

The Red Sox’ closer stepped up when they needed him the most in 2004. Foulke pitched five shutout innings in three outings between Games 4-6, including 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in Game 4.

Foulke’s only save opportunity in that stretch came in Game 6. He put himself in some unnecessary danger, too. As the Red Sox held a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning, Foulke allowed two walks to put two runners on base with two outs. That allowed Tony Clark to come up to the plate to represent the series-winning run, giving him the opportunity to end the Red Sox’ season with one swing of the bat.

Clark was able to load the count, fouling off a pitch off Foulke. But Foulke won the battle, getting Clark to swing-and-miss for strike three and send the series to a Game 7.

David Ortiz’s home run in Game 7

You might remember Ortiz’s homer in Game 7, but the context of the slugger’s two-run shot is worth mentioning. The Red Sox threatened to take an early lead just a few batters into the game, with Manny Ramirez hitting a single to left field. But Johnny Damon, who was on second base, was thrown out at home for the second out of the first inning.

As there might have been some dread among Red Sox fans that they were in for another Game 7 disappointment against the Yankees, Ortiz immediately rectified Domon’s baserunning mistake. He sent the first pitch he saw from Kevin Brown into the right field bleachers, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Over the final four games of the series, Ortiz hit 6-for-19 (.316) with three homers, nine RBIs, and three walks.

Damon also redeemed himself later in Game 7 with his grand slam in the second inning and his two-run homer in the fourth.

Derek Lowe’s Game 7 outing

As Oritz and Damon powered the Red Sox to an early lead in Game 7, Lowe ensured that the Yankees wouldn’t take Game 7. The righty allowed just one run on one hit and a walk over six innings in his Game 7 start. The Yankees only had two at-bats with a runner in scoring position over Lowe’s outing as he retired the side in order four times.

Arguably the most impressive part of Lowe’s Game 7 performance, though, was that he did it on two days rest. He was the Red Sox’ starter in Game 4 just three days prior, giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings in that game.

Game 7 wound up being Lowe’s penultimate performance in a Red Sox uniform as he left the team in free agency after the season. His final performance with the Red Sox was even better, pitching seven innings of scoreless ball in Game 4 of the World Series to help Boston clinch its first title in 86 years.