In 2003, the combination of Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz won the Red Sox a bunch of games. In the first game of the finals in the "Red Sox Showdown for the Ages," the duo was back at it helping the '03 bunch stake their claim as the best Red Sox team of all time.
Ortiz homered and Martinez went seven strong innings surrendering just one run, as the 2003 team knocked off the 1946 team in convincing fashion with a 7-2 win in the first game of the best-of-seven series.
The 2003 team jumped out to an early lead in the Whatifsports.com simulation on the heels of Ortiz's home run, a two-run job that also brought Manny Ramirez around for a 2-0 lead in the second inning on 1946 starter Tex Hughson.
Trot Nixon and Johnny Damon also knocked in a pair of runs to put away the '46 team, who was shut down by Martinez. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up just a run and striking out nine. Grady Little gave the ball to Mike Timlin in the eighth, and despite giving up a leadoff home run to Ted Williams to begin the eighth, the right-handed reliever put the finishing touches on the Game 1 win.
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