2004 World Series

The 2004 World Series represented the 100th time two modern Major League Baseball teams met to decide the championship. The best-of-seven series began on October 23. After winning four consecutive games, on October 27 at 10:40 pm CT, the American League champion Boston Red Sox defeated the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals to claim the 2004 World Series Trophy. It had been 86 years since Boston last claimed the prize by defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series.

Game 1, October 23

The first game of the 2004 World Series was played at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", was performed by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith – whose musical career started in Boston even though he was born in New York – and was followed by a fly-over of F-16s provided by the Vermont Air National Guard, although the planes were heard more clearly than they were seen.

Related Topics:
Fenway Park - Boston, Massachusetts - American - National anthem - The Star-Spangled Banner - Steven Tyler - Aerosmith - F-16 - Vermont - Air National Guard

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Tim Wakefield was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox. During the bottom of the 1st inning, Orlando Cabrera was hit in the shoulder by a wild pitch from the Cardinals' starting pitcher, Woody Williams. David Ortiz hit a 3-run home run during the bottom of the 1st. Kevin Millar scored on a Bill Mueller single, also during the bottom of the 1st, to put the Red Sox up 4-to-0. Mike Matheny was out on a sacrifice fly which scored Jim Edmonds 4-to-1 in the 2nd inning.

Related Topics:
Tim Wakefield - Orlando Cabrera - David Ortiz - Kevin Millar - Bill Mueller - Mike Matheny - Jim Edmonds

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Larry Walker homered on a fly ball to right field in the top of the 3rd inning 4-to-2. The Red Sox ended the progress of the Cardinals in the 3rd with a double play (Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen). In the bottom of the 3rd, a Johnny Damon single scored Bill Mueller 5-to-2. Orlando Cabrera singled on a line drive to left fielder So Taguchi, Doug Mirabelli scored 6-to-2. Manny Ramírez grounded to shortstop Edgar Rentería, Mark Bellhorn scored 7-to-2. Kevin Millar grounded out with a broken bat hit to end the 3rd.

Related Topics:
Larry Walker - Albert Pujols - Scott Rolen - Johnny Damon - So Taguchi - Manny Ramírez - Edgar Rentería - Mark Bellhorn

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Mike Matheny went out again on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Trot Nixon scoring Jim Edmonds 7-to-3. Reggie Sanders scored on a throwing error by first baseman Kevin Millar. Taguchi grounded out to third baseman Bill Mueller, Tony Womack scored 7-to-5. The 5th inning passed without a run for either team.

Related Topics:
Trot Nixon - Jim Edmonds - Reggie Sanders - Tony Womack

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In the top of the 6th inning, Rentería doubled on a line drive to center fielder Johnny Damon and So Taguchi scored. A Larry Walker double scored Rentería, tying the game at 7.

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Kelly Clarkson performed "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch. In the bottom of the 7th inning, a Manny Ramírez single combined with a poor throw by Jim Edmonds led to a run by Mark Bellhorn; the Red Sox regained the lead 8-to-7. A David Ortiz line drive connected with the collarbone of Tony Womack, sending him to the bench, and scored Orlando Cabrera to put the Red Sox up 9-to-7. Marlon Anderson replaced second baseman Tony Womack.

Related Topics:
Kelly Clarkson - God Bless America - 7th inning stretch - Marlon Anderson

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At the top of the 8th inning, Edgar Rentería singled on a ground ball to left fielder Manny Ramírez, Jason Marquis scored on a Ramírez fielding error on that play. On the next at bat, Larry Walker hit a single to Ramírez, who fumbled the catch into a second error, and Roger Cedeño scored to tie the game at 9. In the bottom of the inning, Jason Varitek reached on a fielding error by Rentería. Mark Bellhorn homered into right field, scoring Varitek, and the Red Sox led 11-to-9.

Related Topics:
Jason Marquis - Roger Cedeño - Jason Varitek

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In the top of the 9th inning Keith Foulke struck out Reggie Sanders. Cedeño went down swinging. Despite blowing an early lead, the Red Sox won 11-to-9, setting a new record for the highest scoring World Series opening game, breaking the previous record in 1932.

Related Topics:
Keith Foulke - 1932

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Attendance for the game was 35,035 and the time of the game was 4 hours even. (Play-by-play from ESPN.com)

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