Part 5/9:
As the 2004 ALCS unfolded, both teams fueled the rivalry with emotion and tension. The Yankees won the first two games, riding the momentum of their storied history and bolstered roster against a Red Sox team eager to reverse their "curse." Even as the Yankees seemed poised to seal the deal with a Game 3 victory, the tides began to shift unexpectedly.
Game 4 of the series saw the Red Sox come alive, channeling the fervor of their fanbase and fueled by the urgency of their situation. With a dramatic ninth-inning comeback that saw a steal by Dave Roberts and a game-winning hit by David Ortiz, Boston secured the win, flipping the series narrative on its head. Suddenly, the unthinkable was within reach.