Top 10 Boston Red Sox Games Since 2000

Undeniably every franchise in sports has its iconic or most memorable games. In the era the has seen the Boston Red Sox win four World Series championships, there is absolutely no shortage of those classic individual games. For my money these are the top ten games that have involved Boston's ballclub since 2000.

10. Buchholz's No-Hitter Vs. Orioles (9/1/07)

Injuries at the beginning of September to their rotation forced the Red Sox to recall the then young phenom from the minor leagues. Buchholz was rocketing through the Boston system and had impressed in a solid debut vs Anaheim just weeks earlier. No one could have expected that in start number two the rookie would make history. He made Baltimore Orioles miss all night long and his 1-2 pitch to end it against Nick Markakis sent Fenway Park into an absolute frenzy.

9. Lester's No-Hitter Vs. Royals (5/19/08)

Jon Lester is undoubtedly the best pitcher to come up and develop out of the Red Sox minor league system since 2000 and turned in many memorable performances in his tenure with the MLB club. None top Lester's no-hitter in mid-May against the Kansas City Royals. Fellow homegrown talent Jacoby Ellsbury turned in an amazing diving catch as Lester cruised through KC's lineup. Despite him pitching in the clincher of the 2007 World Series this was the true Jon Lester has arrived after fighting off cancer. To end it Lester made Alberto Callaspo look foolish on a strikeout and embraced manager Terry Francona as Fenway roared.

8. Game 5 2008 ALCS Vs. Rays (10/16/08)

The 2008 Red Sox are without doubt the second most talented club to come to Fenway behind the 2018 World Series winning group. While they did not win a title or a pennant the club was dominate the entire regular season despite drama from Manny Ramirez and injuries. Flash forward to game 5 of the ALCS against a Cinderella Tampa Bay Rays team and Boston was down 7-0 headed to the bottom of the 7th inning. Grant Balfour was on the hill and it seemed Tampa was headed to the World Series but a single by Dustin Pedroia and a three-run blast by David Ortiz sliced Tampa's lead to just three. JD Drew homered and Coco Crisp singled off Dan Wheeler in the 8th to make it 7-7. Then finally in the 9th it was JD Drew again who singled in Kevin Youkilis to extend the Red Sox season on a walkoff.

7. "Boston This is For You" (4/20/13)

Obviously this game is memorable because of the emotions surrounding the circumstance of the Boston Marathon Bombing, but also because of the drama of baseball and the play-by-play of NESN's Don Orsillo. The game began with an impromptu speech by David Ortiz stating to the world "This is our fucking city" and showing Boston will not back down. In their return to baseball after the lockdown, the Red Sox showed they would not back down either. 2-1 late, outrfielder Daniel Nava sent a three-run homerun over the head of Jeff Francoeur and Don Orsillo perfectly exclaimed "Boston, this is for you!"

6. The Mother's Day Miracle (5/13/07)

The "Mother's Day Miracle" is an iconic phrase in Red Sox lore. Down 5-0 in the 9th to divsional foe, the Baltimore Orioles, Boston stormed back to defeat them 6-5. Six runs in the ninth sent roughly 40,000 fans home from Fenway Park both happy, shocked, and exhilarated.

5. Texas Showdown (8/12/08)

The video highlights do more justice for this game than any words could. Simply put the offensive output by both the Red Sox and Texas Rangers on this August 2008 night has been unmatched in any other game I have personally seen. Boston blasted out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning alone, then were up 12-3 in the 5th inning and it was looking like a blowout. Texas said not so fast and quickly made it 12-10. The back and forth continued and Boston emerged victorious.

4. Game 2 2013 ALCS Vs. Tigers (10/13/13)

The 2013 Boston Red Sox were a "team of destiny" that went on an unexpected run when their city needed them the most. Game two of the ALCS against a stacked Detroit Tigers roster shows how much Boston was destined to win it all. Down 5-1 in the 8th, David Ortiz did something he had never done, homer off Joaquin Benoit. He did this with the bases loaded up and tied the game with some iconic Big Papi magic. The bullpen cop's arms and Torii Hunter's legs in the air say it all.

3. Game 6 2007 ALCS Vs. Indians (10/20/07)

Boston had to win this game to stay alive in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians and with his signature moment of his Red Sox tenure JD Drew assured just that with a clutch grand slam. The title in 2007 does not happen without this moment of timely hitting by the much maligned Red Sox outfielder.

2. Game 4 2018 ALCS Vs. Astros (10/17/18)

The most recent entry on this list comes from the run of the absolutely dominant 2018 World Series champions. Going up against the defending champion and now known cheaters, the Houston Astros, Boston had to battle hard to clinch this year's pennant. It was a back and forth affair all night long until Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a high-drive to right to put Boston on top for good. With Houston starting to fight back and seemingly in the position to win an even the series up, Andrew Benintendi finished off the win with the greatest and most important catch in franchise history. 

1. Game 7 2004 ALCS Vs. Yankees (10/20/04)

The Boston Red Sox pulled off the greatest and most stunning comeback in the history of sports. The New York Yankees had the biggest choke in the history of sports. A game seven blowout by Boston finished it off. Enough said.