Tuesday, October 11, 2011

ALCS Walk-Off Wonders

NELSON CRUZ sent baseball historians scrambling with his walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to beat Detroit, 7-3, in Game 2 of the ALCS on Monday. Walk-off granny in the postseason? Never been done before.  As a sports writer for the New Hampshire Union Leader, I've been able to cover two of the most memorable walk-offs in baseball history.


1.), Aaron Boone, Oct. 16, 2003 -- I sat in the right-field auxiliary press box (among the crowd) to watch the majestic blast off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Unbelievable. The Red Sox somehow found a way to blow a 5-2 in the eighth inning and lost in the 11th. I swear the upper deck at Yankee Stadium was shaking and beer rained down, glistening in the lights.


2.), Big Papi, Oct. 18, 2004 -- A night after beating the Yankees with a walk-off homer in the 12th, David Ortiz beat the Evil Empire with a single in the 14th. The Red Sox went on capture the ALCS and win the 2004 World Series.

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