Major League Baseball season
Major League Baseball team season
The2003 Boston Red Sox season was the 103rd season in the franchise'sMajor League Baseball history. TheRed Sox finished second in theAmerican League East with a record of 95–67, sixgames behind theNew York Yankees , who went on to win the AL championship. The Red Sox qualified for thepostseason as the ALwild card and defeated theAmerican League West championOakland Athletics in theALDS . The Red Sox then lost to the Yankees in theALCS .
The Red Sox led the major leagues in nearly all offensive categories, includingruns scored (961),batting average (.289),on-base percentage (.360), and perhaps most impressively, a .491 teamslugging percentage , which set a new record previously held by the1927 Yankees . It would stand until the 2019 season when theAstros (.495) andTwins (.494) both surpassed them.[ 1] extra-base hits , the most ever by one team in a single season.[ 2] [ 3]
In May 2003, the Red Sox settled a lawsuit in federal court filed by seven men who claimed to have been sexually abused as boys by Red Sox clubhouse attendant Donald James Fitzpatrick at the team's spring training site inWinter Haven, Florida between 1971 and 1991. The lawsuit requested $3.15 million in damages but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.[ 4]
This was the first season with designated hitterDavid Ortiz , as he signed a contract for the Red Sox during the offseason. He would stay with the Red Sox until his retirement in 2016.
The search for a new general manager [ edit ] Lucchino initially attempted to hireJ. P. Ricciardi , the general manager of theBlue Jays , but Ricciardi rejected the offer and instead signed a long-term contract with the Blue Jays.[ 5]
On November 10, 2002,Oakland Athletics General Manager,Billy Beane , accepted an offer to become the new general manager of the Red Sox.[ 6] [ 6] [ 7] [ 6]
On November 25, 2002,Theo Epstein , 28, was hired as general manager of the Boston Red Sox.[ 8] [ 8]
October 9, 2002:Brandon Lyon was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from theToronto Blue Jays .[ 9] November 6, 2002:Chris Coste signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.[ 10] December 6, 2002:Wayne Gomes was released by the Boston Red Sox.[ 11] December 12, 2002: The Red Sox acquired second basemanTodd Walker from theCincinnati Reds in exchange for two minor leaguers.[ 12] December 15, 2002:Jeremy Giambi was acquired by the Red Sox from thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcherJosh Hancock .[ 13] December 31, 2002:Ramiro Mendoza signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.[ 14] January 10, 2003:Bill Mueller was signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.[ 15] January 22, 2003:David Ortiz was signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.[ 16] February 15, 2003:Kevin Millar was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Florida Marlins.[ 17] March 7, 2003: The Red Sox signedShea Hillenbrand ,Casey Fossum ,Javier Lopez ,Jorge de la Rosa ,Brandon Lyon , Andy Shibilo,Anastacio Martínez ,César Crespo ,Earl Snyder , andFreddy Sanchez ; releasedJuan Peña .[ 18] March 10, 2003: The Red Sox optionedJorge de la Rosa ,Anastacio Martínez ,Ángel Santos ,César Crespo , andFreddy Sanchez toPawtucket ; assignedKevin Youkilis andHansel Izquierdo to minor-league camp.[ 19] March 12, 2003: The Red Sox placedBenny Agbayani andWillie Banks on waivers.[ 20] March 14, 2003: The Red Sox optioned Andy Shibilo toPawtucket ; assignedJustin Kaye ,Kris Foster ,Tom Davey ,Kevin Tolar ,Brian Loyd andAndy Dominique to minor-league camp.[ 21] March 18, 2003: The Red Sox tradedJavier López toColorado for future considerations.[ 22] March 21, 2003: The Red Sox assignedEarl Snyder ,Julio Zuleta , andLou Collier to minor-league camp.[ 23] March 22, 2003: The Red Sox optionedRyan Rupe toPawtucket and returnedJeff Smith to minor-league camp for reassignment.[ 24] March 26, 2003: The Red Sox waivedFrank Castillo and returnedAdrian Brown toTampa Bay .[ 25] March 28, 2003: The Red Sox claimedDicky Gonzalez off of waivers fromMontreal .[ 26] March 30, 2003: The Red Sox designatedDicky Gonzalez for assignment and purchasedSteve Woodard for assignment.[ 27]
Record vs. opponents [ edit ] Team ANA BAL BOS CWS CLE DET KC MIN NYY OAK SEA TB TEX TOR NL Anaheim — 1–8 3–6 3–4 6–3 6–1 6–3 5–4 3–6 8–12 8–11 6–3 9–10 2–7 11–7 Baltimore 8–1 — 9–10 2–4 3–3 3–3 3–4 3–4 6–13–1 2–7 4–5 8–11 7–2 8–11 5–13 Boston 6–3 10–9 — 5–4 4–2 8–1 5–1 2–4 9–10 3–4 5–2 12–7 5–4 10–9 11–7 Chicago 4–3 4–2 4–5 — 11–8 11–8 11–8 9–10 4–2 4–5 2–7 3–3 3–4 6–3 10–8 Cleveland 3–6 3–3 2–4 8–11 — 12–7 6–13 9–10 2–5 3–6 3–6 5–2 4–5 2–4 6–12 Detroit 1–6 3–3 1–8 8–11 7–12 — 5–14 4–15 1–5 3–6 1–8 2–4 1–6 2–7 4–14 Kansas City 3–6 4–3 1–5 8–11 13–6 14–5 — 11–8 2–4 2–7 4–5 4–3 7–2 1–5 9–9 Minnesota 4–5 4–3 4–2 10–9 10–9 15–4 8–11 — 0–7 8–1 3–6 6–0 5–4 3–3 10–8 New York 6–3 13–6–1 10–9 2–4 5–2 5–1 4–2 7–0 — 3–6 5–4 14–5 4–5 10–9 13–5 Oakland 12–8 7–2 4–3 5–4 6–3 6–3 7–2 1–8 6–3 — 7–12 6–3 15–4 5–2 9–9 Seattle 11–8 5–4 2–5 7–2 6–3 8–1 5–4 6–3 4–5 12–7 — 4–5 10–10 3–4 10–8 Tampa Bay 3–6 11–8 7–12 3–3 2–5 4–2 3–4 0–6 5–14 3–6 5–4 — 3–6 11–8 3–15 Texas 10–9 2–7 4–5 4–3 5–4 6–1 2–7 4–5 5–4 4–15 10–10 6–3 — 5–4 4–14 Toronto 7–2 11–8 9–10 3–6 4–2 7–2 5–1 3–3 9–10 2–5 4–3 8–11 4–5 — 10–8
Red Sox vs. National League Team NL Central CHC CIN HOU MIL PIT STL FLA PHI Boston — — 3–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–2
Notable transactions [ edit ] 2003 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers Infielders
Outfielders Designated hitters
Manager Coaches
2003 Game Log # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 March 31 @Devil Rays 6–4 McClung (1–0)Fox — 34,391 0–1
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 2 April 1 @Devil Rays 9–8(16) Lyon Sosa (0–1)— 11,524 1–1 3 April 2 @Devil Rays 7–5 Lowe Parque (0–1)Fox 10,058 2–1 4 April 3 @Devil Rays 14–5 Fossum Bierbrodt (0–1)— 12,110 3–1 5 April 4 @Orioles 8–7 Burkett Ponson (0–1)— 27,256 4–1 6 April 5 @Orioles 2–1 Ryan (2–0)Fox — 41,821 4–2 7 April 6 @Orioles 12–2 Wakefield López (0–1)— 30,046 5–2 8 April 8 @Blue Jays 8–4 Hendrickson (1–1)Lowe — 13,147 5–3 9 April 9 @Blue Jays 10–5 Sturtze (2–0)Fossum — 13,099 5–4 10 April 10 @Blue Jays 8–7 Timlin Politte (0–1)— 13,779 6–4 – April 11 Orioles Postponed 6–4 – April 12 Orioles Postponed 6–4 11 April 12 Orioles 13–6 Johnson (1–0)Martínez — 32,029 6–5 12 April 13 Orioles 2–0 Lowe López (0–2)Wakefield 32,368 7–5 13 April 15 Devil Rays 6–5 Timlin Levine (1–1)— 29,617 8–5 14 April 16 Devil Rays 6–4 Fox Carter (3–1)Lyon 26,688 9–5 15 April 17 Devil Rays 6–0 Martínez Kennedy (0–1)— 30,909 10–5 16 April 18 Blue Jays 7–3 Wakefield Tam (0–1)— 19,545 11–5 17 April 19 Blue Jays 7–2 Derek Lowe Sturtze (2–1)— 32,329 12–5 18 April 20 Blue Jays 6–5 Timlin Politte (0–2)— 29,579 13–5 19 April 21 Blue Jays 11–6 Lidle (3–2)Burkett — 34,370 13–6 20 April 22 @Rangers 5–4 Martínez Park (1–3)Fox (2)20,158 14–6 21 April 23 @Rangers 6–1 Thomson (1–2)Wakefield — 20,042 14–7 22 April 24 @Rangers 16–5 Dickey (1–1)Lowe — 21,063 14–8 23 April 25 @Angels 5–2 Fossum Washburn (1–3)Fox 37,203 15–8 24 April 26 @Angels 3–1 Shields (1–0)Burkett Percival (3)43,514 15–9 25 April 27 @Angels 6–4(14) Mendoza Callaway (1–3)Shiell 43,690 16–9 26 April 29 Royals 7–2 Wakefield George (3–2)— 40,348 17–9 27 April 30 Royals 5–4 Embree MacDougal (1–2)— 31,334 18–9
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 28 May 1 Royals 6–5 Shiell Grimsley (1–2)Lyon 31,950 19–9 29 May 2 Twins 11–7 Santana (1–0)Mendoza — 31,317 19–10 30 May 3 Twins 9–1 Martínez Fiore (1–1)— 33,061 20–10 31 May 4 Twins 9–4 Rogers (4–1)Timlin — 32,887 20–11 32 May 5 @Royals 7–6 Lopez (4–0)Lyon — 21,232 20–12 33 May 6 @Royals 7–3 Fossum Affeldt (2–1)— 15,848 21–12 34 May 7 @Royals 9–6 Woodard Lopez (4–1)Lyon 28,268 22–12 35 May 9 @Twins 5–0 Santana (2–0)Martínez — 28,436 22–13 36 May 10 @Twins 6–5 Wakefield Rincón (1–1)Lyon 26,346 23–13 37 May 11 @Twins 9–8 Radke (4–3)Lowe Guardado (8)15,641 23–14 38 May 13 Rangers 5–4 Embree Cordero (1–4)Lyon 31,956 24–14 39 May 14 Rangers 7–1 Fossum Benoit (1–1)— 32,485 25–14 40 May 15 Rangers 12–3 Martínez Benes (0–2)— 33,801 26–14 41 May 16 Angels 6–5 Rodríguez (4–1)Embree Percival (6)33,170 26–15 42 May 17 Angels 6–2 Washburn (4–4)Timlin Percival (7)33,327 26–16 43 May 18 Angels 5–3 Burkett Lackey (2–4)Person 33,347 27–16 44 May 19 Yankees 7–3 Wells (6–1)Fossum — 35,099 27–17 45 May 20 Yankees 10–7 Embree Contreras (1–1)Lyon 35,007 28–17 46 May 21 Yankees 4–2 Clemens (6–2)Wakefield Rivera (4)35,003 28–18 47 May 23 Indians 9–2 Lowe Rodríguez (2–5)— 32,673 29–18 48 May 24 Indians 12–3 Burkett Anderson (2–5)— 32,643 30–18 49 May 25 Indians 6–4 Davis (4–4)Fossum Báez (9)34,318 30–19 50 May 26 @Yankees 8–4 Wakefield Clemens (6–3)— 55,093 31–19 51 May 27 @Yankees 11–3 Pettitte (5–5)Chen — 44,769 31–20 52 May 28 @Yankees 6–5 Rivera (1–0)Lyon — 44,617 31–21 53 May 30 @Blue Jays 13–2 Davis (3–3)Burkett — 21,381 31–22 54 May 31 @Blue Jays 10–7 Sturtze (5–4)Fossum Politte (9)28,809 31–23
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 55 June 1 @Blue Jays 11–8 Halladay (7–2)White — 26,890 31–24 – June 3 @Pirates Postponed (makeup date: June 4 as part of a doubleheader) 31–24 56 June 4 @Pirates 11–4 Kim Benson (5–6)— N/A 32–24 57 June 4 @Pirates 8–3 Lowe D'Amico (4–6)— 27,769 33–24 58 June 5 @Pirates 5–4 Boehringer (3–1)Mendoza Williams (16)33,372 33–25 59 June 6 @Brewers 9–3 Durocher (2–0)Almonte — 20,195 33–26 60 June 7 @Brewers 11–10 Lyon DeJean (2–4)Timlin 34,242 34–26 61 June 8 @Brewers 9–1 Lowe Rusch (1–9)— 20,784 35–26 62 June 10 Cardinals 9–7 Kline (3–4)Lyon Eldred (8)34,937 35–27 63 June 11 Cardinals 13–1 Burkett Tomko (2–5)— 33,453 36–27 64 June 12 Cardinals 8–7(13) Yan (2–1)Mendoza — 34,389 36–28 65 June 13 Astros 4–3 Rupe Stone (4–2)Lyon 33,244 37–28 66 June 14 Astros 8–4 Lowe Redding (4–5)— 34,562 38–28 67 June 15 Astros 3–2(14) Shiell Bland (1–2)— 34,085 39–28 68 June 16 @White Sox 4–2 Buehrle (3–10)Rupe Gordon (1)30,779 39–29 69 June 17 @White Sox 7–4 Burkett Colón (6–7)Lyon 19,887 40–29 70 June 18 @White Sox 3–1 Loaiza (10–2)Wakefield Koch (9)18,708 40–30 71 June 19 @White Sox 4–310 Lyon Koch (2–3)— 17,225 41–30 -- June 20 @Phillies Postponed (makeup date: September 1) 41–30 72 June 21 @Phillies 6–5(13) Mesa (3–4)Seánez — 35,512 41–31 73 June 22 @Phillies 5–0 Myers (6–6)Kim — 60,960 41–32 74 June 23 Tigers 3–1 Wakefield Bonderman (2–11)Timlin 33,814 42–32 75 June 24 Tigers 10–1 Lowe Cornejo (3–6)— 33,848 43–32 76 June 25 Tigers 11–2 Burkett Maroth (2–12)— 33,587 44–32 77 June 26 Tigers 6–4 Martínez Roney (0–2)Lyon 34,415 45–32 78 June 27 Marlins 25–8 Kim Pavano (6–9)— 34,764 46–32 79 June 28 Marlins 10–9 Bump (1–0)Lyon Looper (14)34,804 46–33 80 June 29 Marlins 11–7 Lowe Penny (6–6)— 34,476 47–33
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 81 July 1 @Devil Rays 4–3(11) Carter (5–3)Lyon — 12,122 47–34 82 July 2 @Devil Rays 5–4 Martínez Colomé (1–4)Kim 14,345 48–34 83 July 3 @Devil Rays 6–5(10) Harper (1–4)Timlin — 12,838 48–35 84 July 4 @Yankees 10–3 Lowe Wells (10–3)— 55,144 49–35 85 July 5 @Yankees 10–2 Mendoza Clemens (8–6)— 54,948 50–35 86 July 6 @Yankees 7–1 Pettitte (10–6)Burkett — 54,918 50–36 87 July 7 @Yankees 2–1 Rivera (3–0)Kim — 55,016 50–37 88 July 8 @Blue Jays 2–1(12) Jones Tam (0–3)Kim 20,022 51–37 89 July 9 @Blue Jays 8–7 Lyon Tam (0–4)Kim 23,551 52–37 90 July 10 @Blue Jays 7–1 Mendoza Lidle (10–8)— 20,113 53–37 91 July 11 @Tigers 5–3 Burkett Maroth (4–13)Kim 26,538 54–37 92 July 12 @Tigers 4–2(11) Jones Rodney (0–1)Kim 23,206 55–37 93 July 13 @Tigers 3–0 Ledezma (3–2)Wakefield Mears (4)23,829 55–38 94 July 17 Blue Jays 5–2 Halladay (14–2)Lowe — 34,521 55–39 95 July 18 Blue Jays 4–1 Escobar (6–6)Wakefield Miller (1)34,136 55–40 96 July 19 Blue Jays 5–4(10) Kim López (1–3)— 34,812 56–40 97 July 20 Blue Jays 9–4 Martínez Wasdin (0–1)— 34,321 57–40 98 July 21 Tigers 14–5 Burkett Bonderman (3–14)Fossum 33,823 58–40 99 July 22 Tigers 7–4 Lowe Maroth (5–14)— 33,570 59–40 100 July 23 Devil Rays 10–4 Wakefield Harper (1–6)— 33,446 60–40 101 July 24 Devil Rays 15–9 Zambrano (7–5)Mendoza — 33,521 60–41 102 July 25 Yankees 4–3 Rivera (5–0)Kim — 34,873 60–42 103 July 26 Yankees 5–4 Kim Benítez (3–4)— 34,356 61–42 104 July 27 Yankees 6–4 Fossum Hammond (2–1)Kim 34,787 62–42 105 July 29 @Rangers 14–7 Wakefield García (1–1)— 24,632 63–42 106 July 30 @Rangers 9–2 Ellis (1–1)Mendoza — 25,354 63–43 107 July 31 @Rangers 7–3(11) Ramirez (2–0)Jones — 27,108 63–44
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 108 August 1 @Orioles 2–1 Hentgen (4–5)Burkett Julio (25)41,188 63–45 109 August 2 @Orioles 11–2 Lopez (4–6)Lowe — 49,334 63–46 110 August 3 @Orioles 7–5 Wakefield Helling (6–8)Kim 42,085 64–46 111 August 5 Angels 10–9 Timlin Donnelly (2–2)Kim 34,678 65–46 112 August 6 Angels 4–2 Martínez Sele (6–9)— 35,040 66–46 113 August 7 Angels 9–3 Burkett Ortiz (13–9)— 34,570 67–46 114 August 8 Orioles 10–4 Helling (7–8)Lowe — 35,099 67–47 115 August 8 Orioles 4–2 DuBose (1–1)Fossum Julio (28)34,595 67–48 116 August 9 Orioles 6–4 Embree Driskill (3–5)Kim 34,883 68–48 117 August 10 Orioles 5–3 Johnson (10–5)Suppan Julio (29)34,239 68–49 118 August 11 @Athletics 4–0 Hudson (11–4)Martínez — 33,504 68–50 119 August 12 @Athletics 5–3 Zito (9–10)Burkett Foulke (30)26,823 68–51 120 August 13 @Athletics 7–3 Lowe Mulder (15–9)— 44,868 69–51 121 August 14 @Athletics 4–2(10) Kim Mecir (2–2)— 37,293 70–51 122 August 15 @Mariners 10–5 Mateo (4–0)Timlin Hasegawa (12)46,171 70–52 123 August 16 @Mariners 5–1 Martínez Piñeiro (13–8)— 46,100 71–52 124 August 17 @Mariners 3–1 García (11–12)Burkett Hasegawa (13)46,105 71–53 125 August 19 Athletics 3–2 Rincón (7–4)Williamson Foulke (33)34,879 71–54 126 August 20 Athletics 8–6 Bradford (7–3)Kim Foulke (34)34,798 71–55 127 August 21 Athletics 14–5 Fossum Harden (3–3)— 34,844 72–55 128 August 22 Mariners 6–4 Suppan Piñeiro (13–9)Kim 34,379 73–55 129 August 23 Mariners 7–6(10) Timlin Sasaki (1–2)— 34,488 74–55 130 August 24 Mariners 6–1 Lowe Franklin (9–11)— 34,344 75–55 131 August 25 Mariners 8–1 Martínez Meche (13–10)Arroyo 33,007 76–55 132 August 26 Blue Jays 12–9 Towers (4–1)Sauerbeck López (7)33,731 76–56 133 August 27 Blue Jays 6–3 Timlin Halladay (17–6)Kim 34,206 77–56 134 August 29 Yankees 10–5 Lowe Contreras (4–2)— 34,854 78–56 135 August 30 Yankees 10–7 Pettitte (17–7)Martínez Rivera (30)34,350 78–57 136 August 31 Yankees 8–4 Clemens (13–8)Wakefield Rivera (31)34,482 78–58
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 September 1 @Phillies 13–9 Kim Mesa (5–7)— 61,068 79–58 138 September 2 @White Sox 2–1 Burkett Colón (12–12)Kim 23,943 80–58 139 September 3 @White Sox 5–4(10) Kim Gordon (6–6)— 20,082 81–58 140 September 5 @Yankees 9–3 Martínez Pettitte (17–8)— 55,261 82–58 141 September 6 @Yankees 12–0 Wakefield Clemens (13–9)— 55,237 83–58 142 September 7 @Yankees 3–1 Wells (13–6)Suppan Rivera (33)55,212 83–59 143 September 8 @Orioles 13–10 Ligtenberg (2–2)Kim — 23,276 83–60 144 September 9 @Orioles 9–2 Lowe Moss (10–11)— 25,265 84–60 145 September 10 @Orioles 5–0 Martínez Johnson (10–7)— 25,143 85–60 146 September 12 White Sox 7–4 Suppan Wright (1–6)Kim 34,890 86–60 147 September 13 White Sox 3–1 Colón (14–12)Wakefield — 34,414 86–61 148 September 14 White Sox 7–2 Buehrle (13–13)Burkett Marte (11)34,174 86–62 149 September 15 Devil Rays 8–2 Lowe Sosa (5–11)— 33,389 87–62 150 September 16 Devil Rays 3–2 Martínez Harper (4–8)— 33,618 88–62 151 September 17 Devil Rays 7–0 Zambrano (11–9)Suppan — 33,806 88–63 152 September 18 Devil Rays 4–3 Wakefield Bell (4–4)Kim 34,042 89–63 153 September 19 @Indians 2–0 Burkett Stanford (0–3)Embree 20,374 90–63 154 September 20 @Indians 13–4 Dave Lee (1–0)Lowe — 23,242 90–64 155 September 21 @Indians 2–0 Martínez Cliff Lee (3–2)Kim 27,655 91–64 156 September 22 Orioles 7–5 Suppan Johnson (10–9)Kim 33,821 92–64 157 September 23 Orioles 6–5(10) Kim Ainsworth (5–5)— 33,723 93–64 158 September 24 Orioles 7–3 Hentgen (7–8)Burkett — 34,607 93–65 159 September 25 Orioles 14–3 Lowe Daal (4–11)— 34,526 94–65 160 September 26 @Devil Rays 7–2 Burkett González (6–11)— 21,240 95–65 161 September 27 @Devil Rays 5–4 Gaudin (2–0)Suppan Carter (25)25,635 95–66 162 September 28 @Devil Rays 3–1 Zambrano (12–10)Lyon Carter (26)24,138 95–67
Starters by position [ edit ] Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
ALDS vs. Oakland Athletics [ edit ] As the ALwild card , the Red Sox entered the first round of the playoffs against theOakland Athletics . Despite losing the first two games in Oakland, Boston rebounded with two dramatic wins in the late innings atFenway Park to even the series. When the series returned to Oakland, the Red Sox held off a late Oakland charge to win the series in five games. In doing so, they joined the1995 Mariners and1999 Red Sox in coming back from a two-game deficit to win a best-of-fiveALDS .
Boston wins the series, 3–2
Game Visitor Score Home Score Date Series 1(12 innings) Boston 4 Oakland 5 October 1 1–0 (OAK) 2 Boston 1 Oakland 5 October 2 2–0 (OAK) 3(11 innings) Oakland 1 Boston 3 October 4 2–1 (OAK) 4 Oakland 4 Boston 5 October 5 2–2 5 Boston 4 Oakland 3 October 6 3–2 (BOS)
ALCS vs. New York Yankees [ edit ] The stage was set for a classic showdown with longtime division rival, theNew York Yankees . The teams split the first two games in theBronx before the real drama unfolded in Game 3 at Fenway Park. A highly anticipated matchup between Sox acePedro Martínez and former Sox' pitcherRoger Clemens turned ugly early on.Karim García was hit in the back by a Martínez fastball. Words were exchanged and Martínez threateningly gestured towards Yankee catcherJorge Posada . When Garcia was forced out at second, he slid hard intoTodd Walker . The following inning,Manny Ramírez took exception to a high Clemens pitch and charged the mound. Both benches cleared, but the resulting brawl turned surreal when 72-year-old Yankee bench coachDon Zimmer charged Martínez. Martínez sidestepped and threw Zimmer to the ground. After a thirteen-minute delay, Clemens struck out Ramírez and proceeded to pitch effectively as the Yankees took a 2–1 series lead. The Red Sox won Game 4, but the Yankees won Game 5 to take the series' lead back to New York. But Boston proved resilient, and their offense came alive for the first time in the series to the tune of nine runs on sixteen hits to force a seventh game. With a 4–0 lead early on and Martínez pitching, Boston appeared to be on the brink of winning the pennant. But when Martinez started to get tired in the end of the 6th inning, instead of taking him out as he always had in that situation, manager Grady Little not only left him in to finish the inning, but sent him out in the seventh and the eighth. despite allowing several baserunners. Predictably, the Yankees tied the game 5–5 with three eighth-inning runs off Martínez, sending the game on into the October night. Yankee closerMariano Rivera pitched three scoreless innings, and in the bottom of the eleventh,Aaron Boone turned on the first offering fromTim Wakefield and sent it into the frenzied bleachers of Yankee Stadium, sending the Yankees on to theWorld Series for the fifth time in six years. This game further cemented the legend many believed wasThe Curse of the Bambino .
New York wins the series, 4–3
Game Score Date Location Attendance 1 Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Yankees – 2October 8 Yankee Stadium 56,281[ 38] 2 Boston Red Sox – 2,New York Yankees – 6 October 9 Yankee Stadium 56,295[ 39] 3 New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 3October 11 Fenway Park 34,209[ 40] 4 New York Yankees – 2,Boston Red Sox – 3 October 13 Fenway Park 34,599[ 41] 5 New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 2October 14 Fenway Park 34,619[ 42] 6 Boston Red Sox – 9, New York Yankees – 6October 15 Yankee Stadium 56,277[ 43] 7 Boston Red Sox – 5,New York Yankees – 6 (11 innings) October 16 Yankee Stadium 56,279[ 44]
All-Star Game ThePortland Sea Dogs replaced theTrenton Thunder as the Red Sox' Double-A affiliate. The Red Sox fielded two teams in theDominican Summer League , while not participating in theVenezuelan Summer League , following theVenezuelan general strike of 2002–03 .[ 45]
Source:[ 46] [ 47] [ 48]
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