Red Sox rally from 3-0 down to beat Yankees, end 86-year curse

Boston's historic comeback in the 2004 ALCS is defined by Dave Roberts' stolen base and David Ortiz's walk-off heroics.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:20am

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The most memorable moment from the Red Sox' curse-breaking 2004 run wasn't the final out of the World Series, which was a clean sweep. Boston's run to its first championship in 86 years is defined today by a historic comeback against the Yankees in the ALCS, one that has yet to be matched.

Why it matters

The Red Sox' comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS is considered one of the greatest postseason comebacks in MLB history, marking the end of the franchise's 86-year championship drought and cementing the rivalry between the two storied franchises.

The details

The Yankees appeared poised for their sixth American League pennant in seven years with a sweep of the Red Sox until Dave Roberts stole second base off dominant Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and quickly scored on a single by Bill Mueller in the ninth inning to tie Game 4. David Ortiz walked-off the Yankees with a home run, and thus began his postseason legend. Another walk-off win pushed the series to a Game 6, where Curt Schilling famously pitched through an injury in the "bloody sock game." Game 7 was not nearly as stressful for the Red Sox, who jumped out to an early 6-0 lead over the tense Yankees and sealed a comeback for the ages.

  • The Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees.
  • Dave Roberts stole second base off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 4 to tie the game.
  • David Ortiz hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 to keep the Red Sox alive.
  • Curt Schilling pitched through an injury in the "bloody sock game" in Game 6.
  • The Red Sox won Game 7 in a blowout, completing their historic comeback.

The players

Dave Roberts

A Red Sox outfielder who stole a crucial base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees.

David Ortiz

A Red Sox designated hitter who hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees, sparking the team's historic comeback.

Curt Schilling

A Red Sox pitcher who famously pitched through an injury in the "bloody sock game" in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees.

Mariano Rivera

The dominant Yankees closer who was on the mound when Dave Roberts stole the crucial base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.

Aaron Boone

The Yankees player whose home run in the 2003 ALCS kept the Red Sox from having a chance to break their curse the previous year.

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What’s next

The Red Sox' historic comeback in the 2004 ALCS is often cited as one of the most memorable moments in MLB history, and its legacy continues to be celebrated by Red Sox fans and baseball enthusiasts alike.

The takeaway

The Red Sox' improbable comeback against their bitter rivals, the Yankees, in the 2004 ALCS marked the end of an 86-year championship drought and cemented the team's status as one of the most resilient and iconic franchises in baseball history.