They had it.  Joe Boreme and the NY Yankees lead the Red Sox 3-0 in the best of 7 series in the 2004 ALCS.  The greatest rivaly in sports got better when the Sox came back and won the series.  The Yankees had Mariano Rivera on to close it in game 4 but he began the choke of all time.  Game 5 was no better for the dark side as it was ortiz hit the game winning walk off hit in the longest playoff game in history where it almost hit the 6 Hr. mark. Games 6 and 7 sealed the deal capping off the worst choke in the history of sports! Naturally we should expect a worse choke (if possible) in the future from the Yankees.  Maybe they will blow a 30 game lead in the division with a month left in the season.  We all know, with the New York Yankees, any choke is possible!!!

Game 1 - Again into the playoffs as the wildcard team, the Red Sox battled the Angels in the ALDS.  After grabbing a 1-0 lead early, The Red Sox exploded for a 7 run 4th, capped by a Manny Ramirez homerun.  The Sox never looked back, winning game 1, 9-3.

Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	1	0	0	7	0	0	0	1	0		9	11	1
Anaheim	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0		3	9	1

Game 2 - This would be the last game in Anaheim unless game 5 was necessary.  The Angels had a 3-1 lead going into the 6th.  The Red Sox tied it and got 5 in the next 3 innings to win 8-3.

Game 2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	1	0	0	0	2	1	0	4		8	12	0
Anaheim	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		3	7	0

Game 3 - The Red Sox, at home, were seeking a sweep.  With a 6-2 lead in the 7th, Vlad Guerrero hit a Grand Slam to tie it up.  There was just too much power on the Red Sox side though.  David Ortiz sent a 2 run homer over the green monster in the bottom of the 10th to send the Sox on to the ALCS.

Game 3	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Anaheim	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	0	0	0		6	8	2
Boston	0	0	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	2		8	12	0

Game 1 - It was as if it was meant to be.  The Yankees/Red Sox classic ALCS matchup.  The Yanks grabbed an early 2-0 lead off Curt Schilling who only lasted 3 innings, nursing a torn up ankle.  After the Yankees went up 8-0 with a 4 run 3rd, and a 2 run 6th, the Red Sox comeback began.  They got 5 off the Yankee bullpen in the 7th. (Mike Mussina pitched brilliantly before that)  2 more in the 8th made it an 8-7 Yankee lead.  But the momentum once again shifted, and the Yankees won 10-7.

Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	2	0		7	10	0
NY Yankees	2	0	4	0	0	2	0	2	X		10	14	0

Game 2 - The Red Sox wanted to even up the series before heading to Boston.  Pedro Martinez and Jon Lieber were in a pitcher's duel as they gave up 1 combined run through 5 1/2 innings.  John Olerud however hit a two run homer in the bottom of the 6th and the Yankees grabbed a 3-0 lead and won 3-1.

Game 2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	5	0
NY Yankees	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	X		3	7	0

Game 3 - Boston, at home was desperate for a win.  Instead of a pitcher's duel like in game 2, the big bats showed in game 3.  New York got 2 home runs from Hideki Matsui.  Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield also went deep for the Yankees.  The Red Sox got homers from Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek, but were on the wrong end of a 19-8 game.

Game 3	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	3	0	3	5	2	0	4	0	2		19	22	1
Boston	0	4	2	0	0	0	2	0	0		8	15	0

Game 4 - No questions asked.  The Red Sox had to win to keep their World Series hopes alive.  A-Rod hit another homer for the Yankees who had an early 2-0 lead.  The game was tied at 4 through 11 1/2 innings.  David Ortiz hit a walkoff 2 run homer the bottom of the 12th, forcing game 5.

Game 4	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		4	12	1
Boston	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	2		6	8	0

Game 5 - Another must win game for Boston.  For the first time in the series, the Red Sox scored in the first.  They got 2.  Despite NY taking a 4-2 lead, the Red Sox rallied off Mariano Rivera for 2 in the bottom of the 8th.  The game went into extra frames again.  It took 14 innings this time but Big Papi (David Ortiz) delivered a bloop single to win it and send the series back to the Bronx.

Game 5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		4	12	1
Boston	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1		5	13	1

Game 6 - All Red Sox fans got nervous because the Home Field advantage was now in the hands of the Yankees.  After 3 quiet scoreless innings, the controversy began.  Mark Bellhorn hit a ball down the left field line that hit a fan for a home run.  However, the ball bounced back into the field of play and the umps ruled it off the wall.  Terry Francona argued with the umpires who huddled together and ruled it a homer.  Curt Schilling, who piched great through 7 innings, handed the ball to reliever Bronson Arroyo.  Arroyo picked up a lttle tapper off the bat of Alex Rodriguez and raced down to 1st.  Rodriguez slapped the ball out of the hand of Arroyo and he was out on interference.  The Red Sox won 4-2, forcing game 7.

Game 6	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0		4	11	0
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0		2	6	0

Game 7 - After Johnny Damon got thrown at trying to score in the 1st, David Ortiz who ended up being the ALCS MVP, hit a two run homer.  Damon went on to hit 2 homers, including a Grand Slam and the Sox went up 8-1 after 4 innings.  Pedro Martinez shockingly came in in the 7th and gave up back to back doubles but the Red sox hung on to win 10-3 and complete the greatest comeback in playoff history.

Game 7	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	2	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	1		10	13	0
NY Yankees	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0		3	5	1

Play of the series: David Ortiz walk of Home Run (game 4)

Game 1 - Coming into the series, everyone expected a lot of scoring.  David Ortiz homered down the right field line to score 3 runs, part of a 4 run 1st.  The Cards answered with a single run the 2nd and also one in the 3rd.  Boston however got a 3 run bottom of the third.  The Cardinals however wouldn't go away.  They tied the game at 7 and then later tied it at 9.  The difference was Mark Bellhorn's two run homer in the bottom of the eigth.  Boston won 11-9. 

Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
St Louis	0	1	1	3	0	2	0	2	0		9	11	1
Boston	4	0	3	0	0	0	2	2	X		11	13	4

Game 2 - St. Louis was trying to even up the series, heading to Busch Stadium.  They were unable to however because Boston got 2 RBIs from Jason Varitek, Mark Bellhorn, and Orlando Cabrera.  All of Boston's runs came with two outs.  Curt Schilling pitched 6 solid innings and Boston won 6-2. 

Game 2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St Louis	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0		2	5	0
Boston	2	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	X		6	8	4

Game 3 - The Cardinals, desperately needing a win tried to take advantage of being at home.  Manny Ramirez hit a towering home run off Jeff Suppan in the first.  The Red Sox grabbed 1 in the 4th and 2 in the fifth and all the Cardinals could squander was a 9th inning solo homer by Larry Walker.  Pedro Martinez got the 4-1 win.

Game 3	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0		4	9	0
St Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	4	0

Game 4 - Literally, a must-win for St. Louis.  A 1st inning homer by Johnny Damon put the Red Sox up by 1.  Even though that is all they would need behind Derek Lowe, they got 2 more and took it 3-0, a sweep and their first World Series title in 86 years.

Game 4	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	9	0
St Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	0

Play of the series: Bellhorn 2-run Homerun (game 1)