 10/13/2003 10:42 PM ET
ALCS ScoreTracker: Game 4
BOT 4th: BOS 1, NYY 0: There wasn't any
carryover from the fourth-inning brouhaha of Game 3, but Game 4 of the ALCS featured just as much excitement. For the
fourth time in as many games the underdog Red Sox landed the first blow against the
heavyweight Yankees. This time Boston second baseman Todd Walker delivered a solo shot
into the right-field bleachers against New York starter Mike Mussina. The homer was
Walker's fifth of the postseason, making him the most prolific playoff slugger in Red Sox
lore. Walker surpassed Nomar Garciaparra and John Valentin, who each hit four long balls
in the 1999 postseason.
TOP 5th: BOS 1, NYY 1: The Yankees answered immediately when David Dellucci started the comeback with a one-out single to right field and took second when Alfonso Soriano ripped a single
to left off of Boston starter Tim Wakefield. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter then slammed a Wakefield knuckleball
down the third-base line. As Boston third baseman Bill Mueller made a diving attempt on
the shot, the ball hit the bag and hopped into short left field. However, the Yankees
failed to get anything more out of the inning because Wakefield escaped the inning by sandwiching a walk to Bernie Williams between a couple of
shallow fly balls.
BOT 5th: BOS 2, NYY 1: Trot Nixon didn't waste any time putting Boston back in front, punching a Mussina offering over the
center-field wall for a one-out home run.
BOT 7th: BOS 3, NYY 1: The Boston barrage continued two innings later when Kevin
Millar drew a one-out walk and moved to third on Nixon's double off the Green Monster in
left. Millar could have easlily scored on the play had it not been for a smart and sneaky
move by Yankees right fielder Hideki Matsui, who faked camping under the ball to slow down
Millar as he approached second base. Upon reaching third, Millar could only shake his
head. Mussina then set up a possible inning-ending double play with an intentional walk to
Mueller. It came milliseconds from working when pinch-hitter Jason Varitek hit into a
forceout at second, but Varitek hustled down the line to barely beat the relay throw and
allow Millar to score.
TOP 9th: BOS 3, NYY 2: Newly-named closer Scott Williamson came on in the ninth
hoping to help Boston even the series. He fanned Yankees first baseman Nick Johnson
for the first out of the inning, but pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra tagged him for a solo homer
into right field. Wiliamson, however, sealed the save a pair of strikeouts
against Delllucci and Soriano to take Game 4.
Todd Lorenz is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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