9/24/03
UNBELIEVABLE!
Mel recalls September 23, 2003: The Impossible Game
"It's not over until the last man is out"-from the book "Shoeless Joe"
That quote above sums up this game which was played on September 23, 2003. I'm still in shock over that win, even right now where the Red Sox have just lost to the Orioles 7-3. It was a win for the ages. I bet you Red Sox Nation is going to remember this game for the rest of their lives. I know I will. The game had made a believer out of me, with the possibiltity of the Red Sox possibly doing the impossible. Even the media was gushing about the Red Sox today, let alone the fans. I call this game The Impossible Win. I think that sums it up best. Down and almost out. This game is the true essence of what the Red Sox were doing all this year: They fought their way, winning as many games as they could, fighting the good fight until the last man was out. It all seemed lost until the bottom of the 9th inning. During then, everything would unfold and tell the story of The Impossible Win.
Todd Walker was one of the heroes of the game
At the time it seemed as if all was lost. The O's were leading 5-2 and it was the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox' two runs were scored on a David Ortiz RBI groundout in the first inning and on a sac fly by Todd Walker in the 5th inning. The score was 3-2 within the 9th inning. The 3 runs were thanks to Luis Matos' 3-run jack off of Tim Wakefield. Luis Matos was a thorn in the Red Sox' side throughout the game. He also robbed Nomar of a hit. During the 9th, the reliever, Bronson Arroyo, gave up 2 runs; one thanks to an error by backup outfielder Gabe Kapler.The Red Sox had a chance to tie it in the 8th, since pinch runner Adrian Brown was on third. Kevin Millar ended up striking out, and Bill Mueller drove the ball out, but it was caught by Luis Matos. As Arroyo got the last man out, there was a three run deficit. Everything seemed lost. Everybody wanted to just have the game just end as painless as possible, so they can either go to bed, go online, or watch Extra Innings with the interview with Bill Mueller. But nobody seemed to know that in the bottom of the 9th, something special would unfold.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, the batters due up were Kapler, Doug Mirabelli, and Johnny Damon. Kapler and Mirabelli were pinch hit for. Batting for those two were Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek. The Orioles brought in their closer, Jorge Julio. Julio's first victim was Trot. Trot ends up popping out. 1 out. By now, the Orioles weren't worrying much about the game, since they though it was in the bag. Next batter was Tek. Tek ends up getting a single off of Julio. No big deal. After Tek came up Johnny Damon. Damon ends up grounding out. 2 outs. One more out and this pain would be gone, Red Sox Nation said. Nomar came up to bat. He had a patient at-bat and ended up walking. So now there were two outs, runners at the corners and the tying run at the plate. That tying run was Todd Walker.
Todd Walker celebrates his 3-run homer with the fans at Fenway Park
By this time, the Red Sox were just waiting for the game to end. Everybody had given up on them, well almost. Some people still had faith. Not me, however. I was on the computer talking to my Red Sox buddy. I told him to feed me lines from the game to see what happens. By this time, Todd was at the plate. He worked the count to a full count. At this time at my home, my dad flipped it back on the game. He had given up, but then decided to stick around to see Todd's AB, which seemed like it'd end the game. My dad said sarcastically to my mom "Yeah like Todd Walker is going to hit one out right here". I was on the computer as my Red Sox buddy was feeding me lines. I had my hands entwined together for a miracle to happen. Looks like God was surely smiling down upon Red Sox Nation that day. Todd Walker swings at a low and away pitch. The ball IS SAILING!!!!!!! IT'S GOING GOING GOING!!!! IT GOES INTO THE BULLPEN!!!!! TODD WALKER HAD JUST HIT A 3-RUN HOME RUN!!!!!!! THE SCORE WAS NOW TIED AT 5-5!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!! Right when it happened, my buddy IMed me writing "home run!!!". At the same time, the girls from across the hall were watching the game and they were screaming. I was in shock. I bolted to across the hall to see if it was true. IT WAS!!! WHAT A GAME!!! WHAT A FREAKIN' GAME!!! After Todd's epic HR, Adrian Brown ended up striking out looking. But the game wasn't over yet. It went into Extra Innings. Reliever Byung-Hyung Kim pitched a solid inning of relief as it went into the bottom of the 10th inning. And just as you thought it couldn't get any better, it did. David Ortiz was due up to bat, and he gave something for the Red Sox Nation to cheer about....
Part 2 of UNBELIEVABLE!