BOSTON, 18 October 2004 — The New York Yankees scored the most runs in an American League Championship Series game as they pounded the Boston Red Sox 19-8 on Saturday to move within one victory of a return trip to the World Series.
New York’s commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series has turned the highly-anticipated rematch of last year’s seven-game thriller into a one-sided blowout.
In what turned out to be the longest nine-inning game in playoff history, Boston pitchers encountered trouble from the outset.
Starter Bronson Arroyo walked Yankee captain Derek Jeter to start the game, then gave up a double to Alex Rodriguez and a two-run homer to Hideki Matsui to put Boston in a 3-0 hole before their batters had a chance to come to the plate. The Yankees knocked Arroyo out of the game in the third inning, but the Red Sox bullpen could not slow New York’s power hitters.
The Bronx Bombers’ 2-3-4 hitters —Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Matsui — each homered and combined for 12 hits, 13 runs scored and 12 runs batted in.
Clemens Pitches Astros Back Into NLCS
Roger Clemens pitched seven gritty innings and Houston batters belted three home runs as the Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 in Game Three of the National League Championship Series.
Coaxed out of retirement for performances like this one, the 42-year-old Clemens struck out seven and gave up four hits to guide Houston to their first win in the best-of-seven series.
The victory was critical for the Astros, who trail St. Louis 2-1 after losses at Busch Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.
Clemens gave up early home runs to Larry Walker and Jim Edmonds, then shut out the Cardinals for five innings before reliever Brad Lidge came on in the eighth to close out the win with two scoreless innings. The six-time Cy Young award winner retired after last season with the New York Yankees, but changed his mind and signed on for his hometown Astros after another former Yankee, Andy Pettitte, joined Houston.
