2004 ALCS Game 4 vs Yankees

Lore & Background

The Red Sox became the first team in major league history to come back from a 3–0 postseason deficit, defeating the Yankees in seven games. Game 4 was the turning point, with Dave Roberts' stolen base and David Ortiz's walk-off home run.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Yankee Stadium felt heavy, thick with the smell of roasted nuts and the Yankees' certainty of victory. But down in the dugout, Dave Roberts saw a crack in the armor. With one out in the ninth, he crouched behind the plate, eyes locked on Mariano Rivera, knowing that one mistake would end the season. As Rivera wound up for his slider, Roberts didn't just run; he exploded from the box, a flash of red socks against the green turf, beating the throw by inches to steal second base in silence before the crowd could even gasp. The roar that followed wasn't triumph—it was confusion. Then came Bill Mueller. With two outs and the count full, the weight of 86 years rested on his shoulders. He fouled off a slider, then crushed a fastball back up the middle for a single, sending Roberts home. The crack of the bat echoed like a gunshot, turning a season of despair into extra innings and the impossible into reality.

Reader's Guide

The opposing starting pitcher in Game 4 was Orlando Hernández, not Javier Vázquez. Dave Roberts was acquired on July 31, 2004, not September 1.

Did You Know?

• Dave Roberts was acquired by the Red Sox from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, 2004.
• The starting pitcher for the Yankees in Game 4 was Orlando Hernández.
• The Red Sox trailed 3–0 in the series and 4–3 in the ninth inning of Game 4 before tying the game.