As with the rest of the articles in this series, I started out intending to list the Top Ten games of the last decade; but then realized I would have to leave too many great games off the list if I limited it to just ten games.
So, as a result, I hereby present you with my Top 20 Sox games of the last 10 years.
Part I of the list contains Games 11-20:
Game #20. Big Innings Abound - June 27, 2003 and May 7, 2009
These were the BIG-inning games from the decade…both occurred at Fenway Park.
On June 27, 2003, the Sox scored 14 runs in the first inning of a 25-8 trouncing of the Florida Marlins.
Johnny Damon had three hits and three runs batted in during the record-setting inning (the Red Sox set a major league record by scoring 10 runs without recording an out in the first inning). Former Sox prospect Carl Pavano suffered the brunt of the onslaught, allowing six runs on six hits without recording an out.
Six years later, on May 7, 2009, in the sixth inning of a 13-3 win over the Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox scored 12 runs off three pitchers before the Tribe ever recorded an out.
Sox hitters strung together six singles, two doubles and three walks and a home run in the frame…the home run by Jason Bay was the final blow in the twelve-batter assault.
(NOTE: It was only the second time since 1900 a team had scored 12 runs in an inning before an out was recorded…the Brooklyn Dodgers did the trick in the eighth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 24, 1953.)
Game #19. Down And Out In Tampa Bay - October 19, 2008
Although the Red Sox lost the contest, Game 7 of the ‘08 ALCS certainly has to be listed among the best games of the decade—as much for its importance as for the quality of the play.
It was a pitcher’s duel, between Sox lefty Jon Lester took the mound against Rays righty Matt Garza (who would be named the ALCS MVP).
Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia homered with one out in the first inning to put the Red Sox up, 1-0, but Garza then strung together a series of zeroes before leaving the game after an error at the start the eighth inning.
For his part, Lester started the game with three perfect innings before allowing single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings as the Rays built a 3-1 lead.
The Red Sox loaded the bases in the crucial eighth inning, but TB manager Joe Maddon employed four relievers to escape the would-be rally unscathed.
Rays rookie phenom David Price struck out J.D. Drew to end the frame and then shut the Sox down in the ninth inning to send the Rays to their first World Series.
Game #18. Petey Announces His Presence With Authority - August 29, 2000
Pedro Martinez hit lead-off hitter Gerald Williams in the bottom of the first inning in Tampa, Florida. In response, Williams charged the mound, where he was quickly apprehended by first baseman Brian Daubach and the rest of the Red Sox.
Devil Rays pitchers responded by throwing at Red Sox batters—especially Daubach—for the rest of the night.
The umpiring crew ejected five Rays players, their manager, and two of their coaches while no one from the Sox was tossed.
Through it all, Martinez never lost focus and pitched hitless ball into the 9th inning, only to have the no-no broken up by Rays catcher John Flaherty leading off in the ninth.
Martinez struck out 13 batters and finished with a one-hitter.
It was the signature effort in a campaign that is considered by many pundits to be the greatest season by a pitcher in MLB history.
Game #17. Raising the Banner - April 11, 2005
The home opener of the 2005 season would have been notable under any circumstances because it was against the NY Yankees. But THIS home opener was extra special because it was the day the franchise raised its first championship banner in 86 years.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera laughed as he received a rousing ovation from Red Sox Nation (cheers that were bestowed in recognition of Rivera’s subpar performance in the ’04 ALCS).
World Series championship rings were distributed, a championship banner was unfurled in front of The Green Monster, and a championship flag was raised in left-center field. And for good measure the Sox spanked the Yankees, 8-1.
Game #16. Gunfight at the O-K Corral - May 28, 2000
It is truly remarkable that the Red Sox were in so many memorable games during the decade that this one ranks only sixteenth on my list of best games.
It was the Gunfight at the O-K Corral.
Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez faced off against former Sox ace Roger Clemens in a game at Yankee Stadium.
The teams entered the game tied for first place in the American League East.
The game was scoreless through eight innings but Roger blinked in the ninth, surrendering a two-out, two-run home run to Trot Nixon.
Pedro finished the bottom of the inning to preserve his four-hit shutout (2-0)…the victory was somewhat reminiscent of his one-hit, 17-K domination of the Yankees on September 11, 1999—also in NYC.
Game #15. Bombs Away! - April 22, 2007
The Red Sox were four games ahead of the Yankees in the early days of the ’07 season when the Evil Empire visited Fenway Park for a Sunday night contest on ESPN.
The Sox trailed 3-0 when they came to bat in the bottom of the third inning against Yanks rookie starter Chase Wright.
The southpaw retired both Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz to start the frame, but he then surrendered consecutive home runs to Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek.
The Red Sox were just the fifth team in MLB history to hit four consecutive home runs…and only the second team to do it off one pitcher.
Despite the record-tying feat, the Sox needed Mike Lowell’s second home run of the game—a three-run shot in the seventh inning—to prevail in a hard-fought 7-6 win.
Game #14. It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over! - October 17, 2008
The Red Sox perpetrated the second largest comeback in post-season history, rallying from a 7-0 deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-7, at Fenway Park.
The Sox rally started with four runs in the seventh inning. With two outs and one runner on base, CF Coco Crisp lined a single into left field to put runners at the corners.
2B Dustin Pedroia battled through an eight-pitch at-bat to deliver an RBI single. David Ortiz rocketed a three-run home run deep into the grandstand in right field to make the score 7-4.
The four-run outburst woke up a moribund crowd at Fenway Park.
The Sox drove Red Sox Nation into a frenzy when they scored three more runs to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, courtesy of a J.D. Drew two-run home run and Crisp’s game-tying base hit into right field.
They then completed the comeback in the ninth inning when, with two outs, 1B Kevin Youkilis busted his tail down the first base line to beat out an infield hit.
After LF Jason Bay was intentionally walked to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup, Drew ripped a ground-rule double off southpaw JP Howell to deliver the game-winning tally.
Game #13. Feeling Lowe In Oakland - October 6, 2003
The Oakland Athletics jumped out to a two-games-to-none in the 2003 ALDS courtesy of 5-4 and 5-1 wins in Oakland, but the Red Sox rallied to tie the series at two games apiece thanks to 3-1 and 5-4 wins at Fenway Park.
The two teams then returned to Oakland to play the fifth and final game of the series at Network Associates Coliseum, in Oakland, on October 6th.
Staff aces Pedro Martinez and Barry Zito opposed one another for the right to move on to face the NY Yankees in the ALCS. The Sox took the lead courtesy of a four-run sixth inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by Manny Ramírez.
Leading by a run as the ninth inning started, Red Sox manager Grady Little sent RHP Scott Williamson to the mound to close out the game, but the righty walked the first two batters of the inning.
Little then called on sinkerball specialist Derek Lowe to extricate the club from its dilemma.
Lowe delivered.
After C Ramon Hernandez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, Lowe struck out pinch-hitter Adam Melhuse. Chris Singleton (a left-handed hitter) was walked intentionally to set up a righty-righty matchup against 2B Frank Menechino, but the A’s sent lefty-swinging Terrence Long to the plate to pinch-hit against Lowe.
With the bases loaded and the season on the line, Lowe struck out Long on four pitches—the last a brilliant, tailing fastball on the inside corner—to send the Sox to New York to face the Yankees.
Game #12. Do You Believe In Miracles? - May 13, 2007
On Mother’s Day at Fenway Park, the Sox were being shut out as the ballgame entered the bottom of the ninth inning. But with the help of two errors and a BAD decision by the opposing manager, the Sox scored six runs for an improbable, unforgettable, come-from-behind 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
O’s starter Jeremy Guthrie had shut out the Sox on only three hits as the ninth inning got underway.
He had thrown only 85 pitches and had retired seven straight batters…he then retired leadoff hitter Julio Lugo for the first out of the ninth inning. He got ahead of Coco Crisp, who hit an 0-2 pitch straight up in the air in front of home plate.
Catcher Ramon Hernandez unwisely called off 1B Aubrey Huff and misplayed the pop fly, allowing Crisp to reach first base.
Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo then inexplicably pulled Guthrie—and the wheels fell off the cart.
David Ortiz doubled home Crisp for the first Sox run of the game. After Wily Mo Pena singled, both J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis drew bases on balls, with Youkilis’ walk forcing home the second run of the inning.
Jason Varitek ripped a two-run single into right field to close the gap to one run and send the game-tying run to third base.
The Orioles walked the next batter to load the bases and set up a force play at any base…and the strategy seemed brilliant when Alex Cora grounded into a force out for the second out of the inning (Youkilis forced at home).
Julio Lugo then worked the count full before hitting a bouncer towards second base that SHOULD have been the final out of the game; but, former Sox 1B Kevin Millar foolishly roamed to his right to field the ball rather than allow his second baseman to make a relatively routine play.
Millar fielded the ball while reliever Chris Ray raced to cover the first base bag. The reliever arrived at the bag a half-step before the hustling Lugo, but in trying to catch the ball and tag the bag simultaneously, Ray took his eye off the baseball.
It rolled away. Varitek scored the tying run and Eric Hinske scored the winning run on the play. Fenway Park erupted. Sox-6, O’s-5.
Game #11. A Little Mistake In New York - October 16, 2003
It was Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series.
The Red Sox were on the verge of their first World Series appearance since 1986 after jumping out to an early 4-0 lead against Roger Clemens and the Yankees in the Bronx.
Sox ace Pedro Martinez was on the mound. He surrendered his third hit of the game in the fifth inning, a steroid-aided home run to right-center field by DH Jason Giambi.
Two innings later, he surrendered his fourth hit of the game—another homer by Giambi. He then surrendered back-to-back singles to the 8-9 before striking out 2B Alfonso Soriano with his 100th pitch to end the inning.
After operating on cruise control for the most of his outing, Martinez was now noticeably laboring.
Assuming his night was over, he shook hands with his teammates in the dugout after escaping the seventh inning with a 4-2 lead.
The world knew that Martinez struggled mightily after 100 pitches and it seemed a foregone conclusion that Sox manager Grady Little would pull his right-hander with his ballclub only six outs from advancing to The Fall Classic.
But to the shock of everyone, including Martinez, Little sent him back out to the hill for the eighth inning.
With the Sox now up 5-2 (thanks to a David Ortiz solo home run), Martinez retired the first batter after a seven-pitch at-bat. The ace then surrendered a double to Derek Jeter and an rbi-single to Bernie Williams that closed the deficit to two runs.
The manager visited the mound, but compounded his original mistake by leaving Martinez in the game. The next two batters hit back-to-back doubles that tied the game.
Three innings later, the Yankees won the game when Aaron "Bleeping" Boone homered off Tim Wakefield.
Little had frozen, seemingly paralyzed by the biggest moment on the biggest of stages.
He eschewed reliance on the statistics that suggested Martinez never should have started the eighth inning. He managed not to lose instead of managing to win.
He was fired.
In his place, the Red Sox hired former Philadelphia Phillies manager, Terry Francona.
And the rest is history.
Part II of this article, unveiling games 1-10, will be published tomorrow.
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