Red Sox’s David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez Blasted Off At 2004 All-Star Game

The Boston Red Sox had all sorts of talent up and down the roster during their historic 2004 season.

When the game’s stars congregated in Houston, Texas for the 2004 All-Star Game, Boston had three representatives in starting pitcher Curt Schilling, designated hitter David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. In a season where the Red Sox redirected the franchise, it only made sense that their stars took over the Midsummer Classic.

On the 20th anniversary of the fateful season and more specifically the All-Star Game in Space City, memories of Boston’s impact come to mind.

Ramirez started in left field for the American League and quickly got an at-bat in former Red Sox righty and then-Houston Astros starter Roger Clemens. Just nine months prior, Clemens and Ramirez found themselves in the middle of a classic Red Sox-Yankees brawl when Boston and New York met in the 2003 American League Championship Series.

This time around, Ramirez put his struggles against the flame-thrower aside when he smacked a two-run home run into the Crawford boxes in left field to extend the American League’s lead. In the battle of eventual Red Sox Hall of Famers, Ramirez won that round.

Ortiz found his way into the lineup later in the night. He too had to get in on the home run fun with his Red Sox teammate.

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The left-handed slugger stepped to the plate in the sixth inning against another pitcher with Boston ties in Florida Marlins right-hander Carl Pavano.

Ortiz did not miss his moment and completely clobbered a two-run home run of his own deep into the second deck at Minute Maid Park.

The efforts of the Boston sluggers helped lead the American League to a 9-4 win. That sealed home-field advantage for the AL representative in the 2004 World Series.

That ended up being the Red Sox after Ortiz and Ramirez combined for 84 home runs during the season and led Boston through a thrilling postseason run to end an 86-year championship drought.