In 2004, fans of the Boston franchise finally had the chance to see their beloved Red Sox win the World Series title for the first time since 1918.

The drought was officially over with the Red Sox's 3-0 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series.

Behind Derek Lowe's seven scoreless innings, Johnny Damon's leadoff home run and Trot Nixon's two-run double, Boston won the game and swept St. Louis to establish the postseason record for consecutive wins at eight.

"We stepped it up at the right time. We're world champs," said Damon after the game. "We're going to enjoy it a bit and give up a bunch of hugs and kisses right now and do what champions do -- celebrate."

Every day from now to Spring Training, MLB.com/Live will air a classic game on Baseball's Best. The Red Sox's Game 4 win can be seen on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

The game couldn't have started out any better for the Red Sox. Damon hit the fourth pitch of the game from Jason Marquis over the fence in right-center field for a leadoff home run.

It was more than enough for Lowe, who pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four. Lowe won all three deciding games for the Red Sox that postseason.

"We came to the park today with the attitude that this was Game 7," Lowe said at the time. "We didn't want it to go any further, because we know what [the Cardinals] can do. So we focused on ending it today, and to pull it off was a great accomplishment."

Boston added two runs in the third on a two-run double by Nixon that scored David Ortiz and Jason Varitek.

Neither team scored the rest of the game as it turned into a faceoff between the pitching staffs of both teams.

But the Red Sox held on, as Bronson Arroyo and Alan Embree combined to pitch the eighth inning and Keith Foulke earned the save with a scoreless ninth.

Red Sox fans will always remember when Foulke fielded Edgar Renteria's ground ball and tossed it to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to seal the victory.

"This was a very special team," said Foulke afterward. "It matters when you got hot. We got hot at the right time."

Red Sox Nation finally could celebrate the franchise's sixth World Series title after enduring so much for so long.

"This is what we've all been waiting for," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein at the time. "We can die happy. I just hope everyone out there who has been rooting for the Red Sox the last 86 years is enjoying this as much as we are."