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 3, October 26

For Game 3, the scene shifted to Busch Stadium in Saint Louis, Missouri. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed by three-time Country Music Association awards winner, three-time Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist award winner, and Grammy Award winning country music singer Martina McBride. At a pregame ceremony, Edgar Martinez was presented with the 2004 Roberto Clemente Award.

Related Topics:
Busch Stadium - Saint Louis, Missouri - Country Music Association - Academy of Country Music - Grammy Award - Country music - Singer - Martina McBride - Edgar Martinez - Roberto Clemente

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Game time temperature was 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). A pre-game rain stopped about half an hour before the first pitch, but left much of the outfield near the wall wet.

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Manny Ramírez opened the scoring for the Red Sox with two out in the top of the 1st inning, sending a 2-2 pitch from the Cardinals' starting pitcher, former Red Sox player Jeff Suppan, into the bleachers over the wall in left-center field, which is 372 feet from home plate.

Related Topics:
Manny Ramírez - Jeff Suppan - Bleacher

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The starting pitcher for the Red Sox was Pedro Martinez. In the bottom of the 1st, the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out, but Jim Edmonds hit a fly ball to left fielder Ramirez, who threw home to catcher Jason Varitek to retire Larry Walker attempting to score from third, for an inning-ending double play.

Related Topics:
Pedro Martinez - Jim Edmonds - Jason Varitek - Larry Walker

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The Cardinals threatened again in the top of the 3rd inning, as Suppan beat out an infield single to third base and Edgar Rentería delivered a double to right-center field. But Walker grounded to first, and Suppan hesitated in his attempt to score. David Ortiz, making a rare appearance at first base (as there is no designated hitter in the National League), took the throw from second baseman Mark Bellhorn, retired Walker, and threw to third, where Bill Mueller tagged Suppan for a double play.

Related Topics:
Edgar Rentería - David Ortiz - Designated hitter - Mark Bellhorn - Bill Mueller

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Trot Nixon extended the Red Sox lead to 2-0 in the top of the 4th, hitting a single to right field that scored Mueller, who had started the rally with a two-out double to left center.

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Johnny Damon led off the Red Sox's 5th inning with a double to right, confounding Walker, who had trouble navigating the wet grass and warning track. Orlando Cabrera followed with a single to right, and Ramírez singled to left, scoring Damon. After Ortiz flied to center and Varitek grounded into a fielder's choice, Mueller singled sharply past first base, allowing Cabrera to score the Red Sox's fourth run. At that point, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa replaced Suppan with Al Reyes (Cardinals starting pitchers failed to finish the 5th inning in all 3 games played so far), who got the final out.

Related Topics:
Johnny Damon - Orlando Cabrera - Fielder's choice - Tony La Russa - Al Reyes

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At the 7th-inning stretch Gospel Music Hall of Fame recording artist, and platinum selling Grammy Award winner Amy Grant performed "God Bless America" from the top of the Cardinals dugout.

Related Topics:
Gospel Music Hall of Fame - Platinum selling - Amy Grant - God Bless America

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Martinez' outing ended after the 7th inning. He finished with six strikeouts, two walks, and three hits allowed. Mike Timlin came on to pitch the 8th.

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Walker homered to center field off Keith Foulke with one out in the Cardinals' 9th to break up the shutout, as the rain returned. Foulke escaped further damage, and the Red Sox won the game 4-1, their seventh straight playoff victory.

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The game was played before 52,015 paying fans, in a brisk (for modern-day playoff baseball) 2 hours and 58 minutes. (Play-by-play from ESPN.com)

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