NEW YORK, 18 October 2003 — Aaron Boone smashed his first postseason home run in the 11th inning to hand the New York Yankees a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox and a spot in the World Series on Thursday.
The Yankees, bidding for their 27th World Series triumph, clinched their 39th American League pennant and will host National League champions Florida Marlins today. The Marlins won their only World Series in 1997.
Boone tagged knuckler Tim Wakefield, who had earlier won Games One and Four and was in line for ALCS MVP honors.
Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera, who worked the final three innings, was subsequently named series MVP.
“This is unbelievable...there are so many heroes today,” an ecstatic Boone said.
“You gotta be kidding me. It’s awesome.”
New York trailed 4-0 in the fourth inning and 5-2 in the eighth as Roger Clemens made an early exit.
But the Yankees roared back and snatched the World Series ticket, leaving the despondent Red Sox fans to dwell on their missed opportunity and the “Curse of the Bambino” that has dogged the franchise since 1920.
That was the year Boston sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, two years after its last World Series win, in 1918.
Alluding to the curse, Boone said he never gave up hope even when Boston were 5-2 ahead.
It was Jeter who got New York going in the eighth. He doubled and then came home on Bernie Williams’ single to center to make it 5-3. Hideki Matsui then pulled a ball down the right field line to put men on second and third with just one out.
Jorge Posada’s flare to shallow center scored both, knotting the score at 5-5 and driving starter Pedro Martinez from the game.
He easily outlasted Yankee ace Clemens, who was pulled out midway through the fourth frame with New York down 4-0.
Boston got going in the second stanza.
After Kevin Millar got aboard with a single, Trot Nixon took Clemens deep to make it 2-0. Jason Varitek then came home when third baseman Enrique Wilson, subbing for Boone, misthrew the ball to first.
Millar led off the Boston fourth, driving a ball to deep left to make it 4-0, prompting Yankee catcher Posada to pound his glove in frustration.
That got Mike Mussina up in the New York bullpen. Clemens then walked Nixon, bringing up Bill Mueller, who singled to put men on the corners with none out.
As Clemens marched off to a standing ovation, Mussina entered and shut down the Sox. The Yankees got on the board in the fifth when Jason Giambi, batting way down in seventh spot, rocked Martinez with a lead-off home run.
Giambi was at it again the seventh, belting his second home run to straight center with two men out.
