In 1946, the Boston Red Sox took a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 with the St. Louis Cardinals ready to break what was then a 28-year drought between championships. However, it wasn't meant to be, and the Cards came back to beat the Sox in seven games.
Now, in the finals of the "Red Sox Showdown for the Ages," the '46 Sox find themselves in the very same position, ready to eliminate the 2003 Red Sox in the quest to determine the best Red Sox team ever.
Ted Williams delivered his second clutch performance in as many games to help the 1946 team roll to a 13-7 win over Pedro Martinez and the 2003 team in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
Williams got the '46 team on the board early, when he smoked a two-run double in the first inning that allowed Johnny Pesky and Dom DiMaggio to come across. Bobby Doerr followed with a single of his own that scored Williams to give the '46 club a commanding 3-0 lead before the '03 team even came to the plate.
It was just the beginning of what would be a rough outing for Martinez who gave up seven runs in six innings, as he took the loss after winning Game 1.
Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run home run to bring the 2003 team within a run. However, in the next half inning, DiMaggio hit a two-run double, and Williams followed that up with a two-run homer a few batters later to put it away.
Check back on Wednesday to see if the 1946 team can put away the series, and for more information on Game 5 and the rest of the tournament, be sure to visit WhatIfSports.com.
