On October 17, 2004 it didn't look good for the Red Sox. The Yankees had beaten them in the previous three games. And after the decimation of game three, it looked like the Yankees might have had it in the bag. But the Yankees didn't count on the magic of Kevin Millar.
Millar has a reputation as a Yankee killer and on the night he urged his teammates, "Don't let us win tonight." For five innings it looked as if they weren't going to heed him; the Yankees led 2-0 on a home run hit by Alex Rodriguez in the third. In the bottom of the fifth: Kevin Millar walked, Billy Mueller grounded into a force out, Mark Bellhorn walked, and Johnny Damon grounded into a force out. With two out and men on first and third, Orlando Cabrera singled. 2-1, New York. Manny walked to load the bases and Ortiz singled in two more runs. 2-3, Boston.
Mike Timlin gave the lead back in the top of the sixth and there it sat, 4-3, going into the bottom of the ninth. Mariano Rivera, who had pitched in the eighth, came out to finish off the Sox and out came Kevin Millar. Ball one. Foul. Ball two. Ball three. Ball four. Millar headed down to first and Dave Roberts came out to run for him.
A throw over from Rivera to keep Roberts close. A second throw over and he was nearly picked off. A third throw over but he was back to the bag. Rivera finally decided to pitch to Mueller and Roberts was off. The pitch was a ball and Roberts was safe. Mueller drove a single up the middle (knocking Rivera on his ass) and Roberts tore around the bases to tie the game. They won in the twelfth on a Manny single and an Ortiz home run.
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