2003 Boston Red Sox season
Major League Baseball season
Major League Baseball team season
The 2003 Boston Red Sox season was the 103rd season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished second in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses, six games behind the New York Yankees , who went on to win the AL championship. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card , and defeated the American League West champion Oakland Athletics in the ALDS . The Red Sox then lost to the Yankees in the ALCS .
The Red Sox led the major leagues in nearly all offensive categories, including runs scored (961), batting average (.289), on-base percentage (.360), and perhaps most impressively, a .491 team slugging percentage , which set a new record previously held by the 1927 Yankees . It would stand until the 2019 season when the Astros (.495) and Twins (.494) both surpassed them.[ 1] They also had 649 extra-base hits , the most ever by one team in a single season.[ 2] [ 3]
In May 2003, the Red Sox settled a lawsuit in federal court filed by seven men who claimed to have been sexually abused as boys by Red Sox clubhouse attendant Donald James Fitzpatrick at the team's spring training site in Winter Haven, Florida between 1971 and 1991. The lawsuit requested $3.15 million in damages but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.[ 4]
This was the first season with designated hitter David Ortiz , as he signed a contract for the Red Sox during the offseason. He would stay with the Red Sox until his retirement in 2016.
The search for a new general manager
Lucchino initially attempted to hire J. P. Ricciardi , the general manager of the Blue Jays , but Ricciardi rejected the offer and instead signed a long-term contract with the Blue Jays.[ 5]
On November 10, 2002, Oakland Athletics General Manager, Billy Beane , accepted an offer to become the new general manager of the Red Sox.[ 6] Beane had for several years publicly expressed his interest in joining the Red Sox, and his contract with Oakland included a stipulation that would allow Beane to consider an offer from the Red Sox.[ 6] Beane had yet to sign the contract with the Red Sox, a contract in which he would be guaranteed $12.5 million over five years, the most anyone had been given to run a baseball team.[ 7] The following day, however, Beane shocked the Red Sox when he declared that he would not accept their offer; the move to Boston would limit the amount of time that Beane would have to spend with his daughter.[ 6]
On November 25, 2002, Theo Epstein , 28, was hired as general manager of the Boston Red Sox.[ 8] Epstein's hiring made him the youngest general manager in major league history.[ 8]
Offseason
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
ANA
BAL
BOS
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TB
TEX
TOR
NL
Anaheim
—
1–8
3–6
3–4
6–3
6–1
6–3
5–4
3–6
8–12
8–11
6–3
9–10
2–7
11–7
Baltimore
8–1
—
9–10
2–4
3–3
3–3
3–4
3–4
6–13–1
2–7
4–5
8–11
7–2
8–11
5–13
Boston
6–3
10–9
—
5–4
4–2
8–1
5–1
2–4
9–10
3–4
5–2
12–7
5–4
10–9
11–7
Chicago
4–3
4–2
4–5
—
11–8
11–8
11–8
9–10
4–2
4–5
2–7
3–3
3–4
6–3
10–8
Cleveland
3–6
3–3
2–4
8–11
—
12–7
6–13
9–10
2–5
3–6
3–6
5–2
4–5
2–4
6–12
Detroit
1–6
3–3
1–8
8–11
7–12
—
5–14
4–15
1–5
3–6
1–8
2–4
1–6
2–7
4–14
Kansas City
3–6
4–3
1–5
8–11
13–6
14–5
—
11–8
2–4
2–7
4–5
4–3
7–2
1–5
9–9
Minnesota
4–5
4–3
4–2
10–9
10–9
15–4
8–11
—
0–7
8–1
3–6
6–0
5–4
3–3
10–8
New York
6–3
13–6–1
10–9
2–4
5–2
5–1
4–2
7–0
—
3–6
5–4
14–5
4–5
10–9
13–5
Oakland
12–8
7–2
4–3
5–4
6–3
6–3
7–2
1–8
6–3
—
7–12
6–3
15–4
5–2
9–9
Seattle
11–8
5–4
2–5
7–2
6–3
8–1
5–4
6–3
4–5
12–7
—
4–5
10–10
3–4
10–8
Tampa Bay
3–6
11–8
7–12
3–3
2–5
4–2
3–4
0–6
5–14
3–6
5–4
—
3–6
11–8
3–15
Texas
10–9
2–7
4–5
4–3
5–4
6–1
2–7
4–5
5–4
4–15
10–10
6–3
—
5–4
4–14
Toronto
7–2
11–8
9–10
3–6
4–2
7–2
5–1
3–3
9–10
2–5
4–3
8–11
4–5
—
10–8
Red Sox vs. National League
Team
NL Central
CHC
CIN
HOU
MIL
PIT
STL
FLA
PHI
Boston
—
—
3–0
2–1
2–1
1–2
2–1
1–2
Notable transactions
Opening Day lineup
Roster
2003 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Designated hitters
Manager
Coaches
Game log
2003 Game Log
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
March 31
@Devil Rays
6–4
McClung (1–0)
Fox (0–1)
—
34,391
0–1
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
2
April 1
@Devil Rays
9–8 (16)
Lyon (1–0)
Sosa (0–1)
—
11,524
1–1
3
April 2
@Devil Rays
7–5
Lowe (1–0)
Parque (0–1)
Fox (1)
10,058
2–1
4
April 3
@Devil Rays
14–5
Fossum (1–0)
Bierbrodt (0–1)
—
12,110
3–1
5
April 4
@Orioles
8–7
Burkett (1–0)
Ponson (0–1)
—
27,256
4–1
6
April 5
@Orioles
2–1
Ryan (2–0)
Fox (0–2)
—
41,821
4–2
7
April 6
@Orioles
12–2
Wakefield (1–0)
López (0–1)
—
30,046
5–2
8
April 8
@Blue Jays
8–4
Hendrickson (1–1)
Lowe (1–1)
—
13,147
5–3
9
April 9
@Blue Jays
10–5
Sturtze (2–0)
Fossum (1–1)
—
13,099
5–4
10
April 10
@Blue Jays
8–7
Timlin (1–0)
Politte (0–1)
—
13,779
6–4
–
April 11
Orioles
Postponed
6–4
–
April 12
Orioles
Postponed
6–4
11
April 12
Orioles
13–6
Johnson (1–0)
Martínez (1–1)
—
32,029
6–5
12
April 13
Orioles
2–0
Lowe (2–1)
López (0–2)
Wakefield (1)
32,368
7–5
13
April 15
Devil Rays
6–5
Timlin (2–0)
Levine (1–1)
—
29,617
8–5
14
April 16
Devil Rays
6–4
Fox (1–2)
Carter (3–1)
Lyon (1)
26,688
9–5
15
April 17
Devil Rays
6–0
Martínez (1–1)
Kennedy (0–1)
—
30,909
10–5
16
April 18
Blue Jays
7–3
Wakefield (2–0)
Tam (0–1)
—
19,545
11–5
17
April 19
Blue Jays
7–2
Derek Lowe (3–1)
Sturtze (2–1)
—
32,329
12–5
18
April 20
Blue Jays
6–5
Timlin (3–0)
Politte (0–2)
—
29,579
13–5
19
April 21
Blue Jays
11–6
Lidle (3–2)
Burkett (1–1)
—
34,370
13–6
20
April 22
@Rangers
5–4
Martínez (2–1)
Park (1–3)
Fox (2)
20,158
14–6
21
April 23
@Rangers
6–1
Thomson (1–2)
Wakefield (2–1)
—
20,042
14–7
22
April 24
@Rangers
16–5
Dickey (1–1)
Lowe (3–2)
—
21,063
14–8
23
April 25
@Angels
5–2
Fossum (2–1)
Washburn (1–3)
Fox (3)
37,203
15–8
24
April 26
@Angels
3–1
Shields (1–0)
Burkett (1–2)
Percival (3)
43,514
15–9
25
April 27
@Angels
6–4 (14)
Mendoza (1–0)
Callaway (1–3)
Shiell (1)
43,690
16–9
26
April 29
Royals
7–2
Wakefield (3–1)
George (3–2)
—
40,348
17–9
27
April 30
Royals
5–4
Embree (1–0)
MacDougal (1–2)
—
31,334
18–9
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
28
May 1
Royals
6–5
Shiell (1–0)
Grimsley (1–2)
Lyon (2)
31,950
19–9
29
May 2
Twins
11–7
Santana (1–0)
Mendoza (1–1)
—
31,317
19–10
30
May 3
Twins
9–1
Martínez (3–1)
Fiore (1–1)
—
33,061
20–10
31
May 4
Twins
9–4
Rogers (4–1)
Timlin (3–1)
—
32,887
20–11
32
May 5
@ Royals
7–6
Lopez (4–0)
Lyon (1–1)
—
21,232
20–12
33
May 6
@ Royals
7–3
Fossum (3–1)
Affeldt (2–1)
—
15,848
21–12
34
May 7
@ Royals
9–6
Woodard (1–0)
Lopez (4–1)
Lyon (3)
28,268
22–12
35
May 9
@ Twins
5–0
Santana (2–0)
Martínez (3–2)
—
28,436
22–13
36
May 10
@ Twins
6–5
Wakefield (4–1)
Rincón (1–1)
Lyon (4)
26,346
23–13
37
May 11
@ Twins
9–8
Radke (4–3)
Lowe (3–3)
Guardado (8)
15,641
23–14
38
May 13
Rangers
5–4
Embree (2–0)
Cordero (1–4)
Lyon (5)
31,956
24–14
39
May 14
Rangers
7–1
Fossum (4–1)
Benoit (1–1)
—
32,485
25–14
40
May 15
Rangers
12–3
Martínez (4–2)
Benes (0–2)
—
33,801
26–14
41
May 16
Angels
6–5
Rodríguez (4–1)
Embree (2–1)
Percival (6)
33,170
26–15
42
May 17
Angels
6–2
Washburn (4–4)
Timlin (3–2)
Percival (7)
33,327
26–16
43
May 18
Angels
5–3
Burkett (2–2)
Lackey (2–4)
Person (1)
33,347
27–16
44
May 19
Yankees
7–3
Wells (6–1)
Fossum (4–2)
—
35,099
27–17
45
May 20
Yankees
10–7
Embree (3–1)
Contreras (1–1)
Lyon (6)
35,007
28–17
46
May 21
Yankees
4–2
Clemens (6–2)
Wakefield (4–2)
Rivera (4)
35,003
28–18
47
May 23
Indians
9–2
Lowe (4–3)
Rodríguez (2–5)
—
32,673
29–18
48
May 24
Indians
12–3
Burkett (3–2)
Anderson (2–5)
—
32,643
30–18
49
May 25
Indians
6–4
Davis (4–4)
Fossum (4–3)
Báez (9)
34,318
30–19
50
May 26
@ Yankees
8–4
Wakefield (5–2)
Clemens (6–3)
—
55,093
31–19
51
May 27
@ Yankees
11–3
Pettitte (5–5)
Chen (0–1)
—
44,769
31–20
52
May 28
@ Yankees
6–5
Rivera (1–0)
Lyon (1–2)
—
44,617
31–21
53
May 30
@ Blue Jays
13–2
Davis (3–3)
Burkett (3–3)
—
21,381
31–22
54
May 31
@ Blue Jays
10–7
Sturtze (5–4)
Fossum (4–4)
Politte (9)
28,809
31–23
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
55
June 1
@ Blue Jays
11–8
Halladay (7–2)
White (0–1)
—
26,890
31–24
–
June 3
@ Pirates
Postponed (makeup date: June 4 as part of a doubleheader)
31–24
56
June 4
@ Pirates
11–4
Kim (2–5)
Benson (5–6)
—
N/A
32–24
57
June 4
@ Pirates
8–3
Lowe (5–3)
D'Amico (4–6)
—
27,769
33–24
58
June 5
@ Pirates
5–4
Boehringer (3–1)
Mendoza (1–2)
Williams (16)
33,372
33–25
59
June 6
@ Brewers
9–3
Durocher (2–0)
Almonte (0–1)
—
20,195
33–26
60
June 7
@ Brewers
11–10
Lyon (2–2)
DeJean (2–4)
Timlin (1)
34,242
34–26
61
June 8
@ Brewers
9–1
Lowe (6–3)
Rusch (1–9)
—
20,784
35–26
62
June 10
Cardinals
9–7
Kline (3–4)
Lyon (2–3)
Eldred (8)
34,937
35–27
63
June 11
Cardinals
13–1
Burkett (4–3)
Tomko (2–5)
—
33,453
36–27
64
June 12
Cardinals
8–7 (13)
Yan (2–1)
Mendoza (1–3)
—
34,389
36–28
65
June 13
Astros
4–3
Rupe (1–0)
Stone (4–2)
Lyon (7)
33,244
37–28
66
June 14
Astros
8–4
Lowe (7–3)
Redding (4–5)
—
34,562
38–28
67
June 15
Astros
3–2 (14)
Shiell (2–0)
Bland (1–2)
—
34,085
39–28
68
June 16
@ White Sox
4–2
Buehrle (3–10)
Rupe (1–1)
Gordon (1)
30,779
39–29
69
June 17
@ White Sox
7–4
Burkett (5–3)
Colón (6–7)
Lyon (8)
19,887
40–29
70
June 18
@ White Sox
3–1
Loaiza (10–2)
Wakefield (5–3)
Koch (9)
18,708
40–30
71
June 19
@ White Sox
4–3 10
Lyon (3–3)
Koch (2–3)
—
17,225
41–30
--
June 20
@ Phillies
Postponed (makeup date: September 1)
41–30
72
June 21
@ Phillies
6–5 (13)
Mesa (3–4)
Seánez (0–1)
—
35,512
41–31
73
June 22
@ Phillies
5–0
Myers (6–6)
Kim (2–6)
—
60,960
41–32
74
June 23
Tigers
3–1
Wakefield (6–3)
Bonderman (2–11)
Timlin (2)
33,814
42–32
75
June 24
Tigers
10–1
Lowe (8–3)
Cornejo (3–6)
—
33,848
43–32
76
June 25
Tigers
11–2
Burkett (6–3)
Maroth (2–12)
—
33,587
44–32
77
June 26
Tigers
6–4
Martínez (5–2)
Roney (0–2)
Lyon (9)
34,415
45–32
78
June 27
Marlins
25–8
Kim (3–6)
Pavano (6–9)
—
34,764
46–32
79
June 28
Marlins
10–9
Bump (1–0)
Lyon (3–4)
Looper (14)
34,804
46–33
80
June 29
Marlins
11–7
Lowe (9–3)
Penny (6–6)
—
34,476
47–33
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
81
July 1
@ Devil Rays
4–3 (11)
Carter (5–3)
Lyon (3–5)
—
12,122
47–34
82
July 2
@ Devil Rays
5–4
Martínez (6–2)
Colomé (1–4)
Kim (1)
14,345
48–34
83
July 3
@ Devil Rays
6–5 (10)
Harper (1–4)
Timlin (3–3)
—
12,838
48–35
84
July 4
@ Yankees
10–3
Lowe (10–3)
Wells (10–3)
—
55,144
49–35
85
July 5
@ Yankees
10–2
Mendoza (2–3)
Clemens (8–6)
—
54,948
50–35
86
July 6
@ Yankees
7–1
Pettitte (10–6)
Burkett (6–4)
—
54,918
50–36
87
July 7
@ Yankees
2–1
Rivera (3–0)
Kim (3–7)
—
55,016
50–37
88
July 8
@ Blue Jays
2–1 (12)
Jones (2–4)
Tam (0–3)
Kim (2)
20,022
51–37
89
July 9
@ Blue Jays
8–7
Lyon (4–5)
Tam (0–4)
Kim (3)
23,551
52–37
90
July 10
@ Blue Jays
7–1
Mendoza (3–3)
Lidle (10–8)
—
20,113
53–37
91
July 11
@ Tigers
5–3
Burkett (7–4)
Maroth (4–13)
Kim (4)
26,538
54–37
92
July 12
@ Tigers
4–2 (11)
Jones (3–4)
Rodney (0–1)
Kim (5)
23,206
55–37
93
July 13
@ Tigers
3–0
Ledezma (3–2)
Wakefield (6–4)
Mears (4)
23,829
55–38
94
July 17
Blue Jays
5–2
Halladay (14–2)
Lowe (10–4)
—
34,521
55–39
95
July 18
Blue Jays
4–1
Escobar (6–6)
Wakefield (6–5)
Miller (1)
34,136
55–40
96
July 19
Blue Jays
5–4 (10)
Kim (4–7)
López (1–3)
—
34,812
56–40
97
July 20
Blue Jays
9–4
Martínez (7–2)
Wasdin (0–1)
—
34,321
57–40
98
July 21
Tigers
14–5
Burkett (8–4)
Bonderman (3–14)
Fossum (1)
33,823
58–40
99
July 22
Tigers
7–4
Lowe (11–4)
Maroth (5–14)
—
33,570
59–40
100
July 23
Devil Rays
10–4
Wakefield (7–5)
Harper (1–6)
—
33,446
60–40
101
July 24
Devil Rays
15–9
Zambrano (7–5)
Mendoza (3–4)
—
33,521
60–41
102
July 25
Yankees
4–3
Rivera (5–0)
Kim (4–8)
—
34,873
60–42
103
July 26
Yankees
5–4
Kim (5–8)
Benítez (3–4)
—
34,356
61–42
104
July 27
Yankees
6–4
Fossum (5–4)
Hammond (2–1)
Kim (6)
34,787
62–42
105
July 29
@ Rangers
14–7
Wakefield (8–5)
García (1–1)
—
24,632
63–42
106
July 30
@ Rangers
9–2
Ellis (1–1)
Mendoza (3–5)
—
25,354
63–43
107
July 31
@ Rangers
7–3 (11)
Ramirez (2–0)
Jones (3–5)
—
27,108
63–44
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
108
August 1
@ Orioles
2–1
Hentgen (4–5)
Burkett (8–5)
Julio (25)
41,188
63–45
109
August 2
@ Orioles
11–2
Lopez (4–6)
Lowe (11–5)
—
49,334
63–46
110
August 3
@ Orioles
7–5
Wakefield (9–5)
Helling (6–8)
Kim (7)
42,085
64–46
111
August 5
Angels
10–9
Timlin (4–3)
Donnelly (2–2)
Kim (8)
34,678
65–46
112
August 6
Angels
4–2
Martínez (8–2)
Sele (6–9)
—
35,040
66–46
113
August 7
Angels
9–3
Burkett (9–5)
Ortiz (13–9)
—
34,570
67–46
114
August 8
Orioles
10–4
Helling (7–8)
Lowe (11–6)
—
35,099
67–47
115
August 8
Orioles
4–2
DuBose (1–1)
Fossum (5–5)
Julio (28)
34,595
67–48
116
August 9
Orioles
6–4
Embree (4–1)
Driskill (3–5)
Kim (9)
34,883
68–48
117
August 10
Orioles
5–3
Johnson (10–5)
Suppan (10–8)
Julio (29)
34,239
68–49
118
August 11
@ Athletics
4–0
Hudson (11–4)
Martínez (8–3)
—
33,504
68–50
119
August 12
@ Athletics
5–3
Zito (9–10)
Burkett (9–6)
Foulke (30)
26,823
68–51
120
August 13
@ Athletics
7–3
Lowe (12–6)
Mulder (15–9)
—
44,868
69–51
121
August 14
@ Athletics
4–2 (10)
Kim (6–8)
Mecir (2–2)
—
37,293
70–51
122
August 15
@ Mariners
10–5
Mateo (4–0)
Timlin (4–4)
Hasegawa (12)
46,171
70–52
123
August 16
@ Mariners
5–1
Martínez (9–3)
Piñeiro (13–8)
—
46,100
71–52
124
August 17
@ Mariners
3–1
García (11–12)
Burkett (9–7)
Hasegawa (13)
46,105
71–53
125
August 19
Athletics
3–2
Rincón (7–4)
Williamson (5–4)
Foulke (33)
34,879
71–54
126
August 20
Athletics
8–6
Bradford (7–3)
Kim (6–9)
Foulke (34)
34,798
71–55
127
August 21
Athletics
14–5
Fossum (6–5)
Harden (3–3)
—
34,844
72–55
128
August 22
Mariners
6–4
Suppan (11–8)
Piñeiro (13–9)
Kim (10)
34,379
73–55
129
August 23
Mariners
7–6 (10)
Timlin (5–4)
Sasaki (1–2)
—
34,488
74–55
130
August 24
Mariners
6–1
Lowe (13–6)
Franklin (9–11)
—
34,344
75–55
131
August 25
Mariners
8–1
Martínez (10–3)
Meche (13–10)
Arroyo (1)
33,007
76–55
132
August 26
Blue Jays
12–9
Towers (4–1)
Sauerbeck (3–5)
López (7)
33,731
76–56
133
August 27
Blue Jays
6–3
Timlin (6–4)
Halladay (17–6)
Kim (11)
34,206
77–56
134
August 29
Yankees
10–5
Lowe (14–6)
Contreras (4–2)
—
34,854
78–56
135
August 30
Yankees
10–7
Pettitte (17–7)
Martínez (10–4)
Rivera (30)
34,350
78–57
136
August 31
Yankees
8–4
Clemens (13–8)
Wakefield (9–6)
Rivera (31)
34,482
78–58
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
137
September 1
@ Phillies
13–9
Kim (7–9)
Mesa (5–7)
—
61,068
79–58
138
September 2
@ White Sox
2–1
Burkett (10–7)
Colón (12–12)
Kim (12)
23,943
80–58
139
September 3
@ White Sox
5–4 (10)
Kim (8–9)
Gordon (6–6)
—
20,082
81–58
140
September 5
@ Yankees
9–3
Martínez (11–4)
Pettitte (17–8)
—
55,261
82–58
141
September 6
@ Yankees
12–0
Wakefield (10–6)
Clemens (13–9)
—
55,237
83–58
142
September 7
@ Yankees
3–1
Wells (13–6)
Suppan (11–9)
Rivera (33)
55,212
83–59
143
September 8
@ Orioles
13–10
Ligtenberg (2–2)
Kim (8–10)
—
23,276
83–60
144
September 9
@ Orioles
9–2
Lowe (15–6)
Moss (10–11)
—
25,265
84–60
145
September 10
@ Orioles
5–0
Martínez (12–4)
Johnson (10–7)
—
25,143
85–60
146
September 12
White Sox
7–4
Suppan (12–9)
Wright (1–6)
Kim (13)
34,890
86–60
147
September 13
White Sox
3–1
Colón (14–12)
Wakefield (10–7)
—
34,414
86–61
148
September 14
White Sox
7–2
Buehrle (13–13)
Burkett (10–8)
Marte (11)
34,174
86–62
149
September 15
Devil Rays
8–2
Lowe (16–6)
Sosa (5–11)
—
33,389
87–62
150
September 16
Devil Rays
3–2
Martínez (13–4)
Harper (4–8)
—
33,618
88–62
151
September 17
Devil Rays
7–0
Zambrano (11–9)
Suppan (12–10)
—
33,806
88–63
152
September 18
Devil Rays
4–3
Wakefield (11–7)
Bell (4–4)
Kim (14)
34,042
89–63
153
September 19
@ Indians
2–0
Burkett (11–8)
Stanford (0–3)
Embree (1)
20,374
90–63
154
September 20
@ Indians
13–4
Dave Lee (1–0)
Lowe (16–7)
—
23,242
90–64
155
September 21
@ Indians
2–0
Martínez (14–4)
Cliff Lee (3–2)
Kim (15)
27,655
91–64
156
September 22
Orioles
7–5
Suppan (13–10)
Johnson (10–9)
Kim (16)
33,821
92–64
157
September 23
Orioles
6–5 (10)
Kim (9–10)
Ainsworth (5–5)
—
33,723
93–64
158
September 24
Orioles
7–3
Hentgen (7–8)
Burkett (11–9)
—
34,607
93–65
159
September 25
Orioles
14–3
Lowe (17–7)
Daal (4–11)
—
34,526
94–65
160
September 26
@ Devil Rays
7–2
Burkett (12–9)
González (6–11)
—
21,240
95–65
161
September 27
@ Devil Rays
5–4
Gaudin (2–0)
Suppan (13–11)
Carter (25)
25,635
95–66
162
September 28
@ Devil Rays
3–1
Zambrano (12–10)
Lyon (4–6)
Carter (26)
24,138
95–67
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Postseason
ALDS vs. Oakland Athletics
As the AL wild card , the Red Sox entered the first round of the playoffs against the Oakland Athletics . Despite losing the first two games in Oakland, Boston rebounded with two dramatic wins in the late innings at Fenway Park to even the series. When the series returned to Oakland, the Red Sox held off a late Oakland charge to win the series in five games. In doing so, they joined the 1995 Mariners and 1999 Red Sox in coming back from a two-game deficit to win a best-of-five ALDS .
Boston wins the series, 3–2
Game
Visitor
Score
Home
Score
Date
Series
1 (12 innings)
Boston
4
Oakland
5
October 1
1–0 (OAK)
2
Boston
1
Oakland
5
October 2
2–0 (OAK)
3 (11 innings)
Oakland
1
Boston
3
October 4
2–1 (OAK)
4
Oakland
4
Boston
5
October 5
2–2
5
Boston
4
Oakland
3
October 6
3–2 (BOS)
ALCS vs. New York Yankees
The stage was set for a classic showdown with longtime division rival, the New York Yankees . The teams split the first two games in the Bronx before the real drama unfolded in Game 3 at Fenway Park. A highly anticipated matchup between Sox ace Pedro Martínez and former Sox' pitcher Roger Clemens turned ugly early on. Karim García was hit in the back by a Martínez fastball. Words were exchanged and Martínez threateningly gestured towards Yankee catcher Jorge Posada . When Garcia was forced out at second, he slid hard into Todd Walker . The following inning, Manny Ramírez took exception to a high Clemens pitch and charged the mound. Both benches cleared, but the resulting brawl turned surreal when 72-year-old Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer charged Martínez. Martínez sidestepped and threw Zimmer to the ground. After a thirteen-minute delay, Clemens struck out Ramírez and proceeded to pitch effectively as the Yankees took a 2–1 series lead. The Red Sox won Game 4, but the Yankees won Game 5 to take the series' lead back to New York. But Boston proved resilient, and their offense came alive for the first time in the series to the tune of nine runs on sixteen hits to force a seventh game. With a 4–0 lead early on and Martínez pitching, Boston appeared to be on the brink of winning the pennant. But when Martinez started to get tired in the end of the 6th inning, instead of taking him out as he always had in that situation, manager Grady Little not only left him in to finish the inning, but sent him out in the seventh and the eighth. despite allowing several baserunners. Predictably, the Yankees tied the game 5–5 with three eighth-inning runs off Martínez, sending the game on into the October night. Yankee closer Mariano Rivera pitched three scoreless innings, and in the bottom of the eleventh, Aaron Boone turned on the first offering from Tim Wakefield and sent it into the frenzied bleachers of Yankee Stadium, sending the Yankees on to the World Series for the fifth time in six years. This game further cemented the legend many believed was The Curse of the Bambino .
New York wins the series, 4–3
Game
Score
Date
Location
Attendance
1
Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Yankees – 2
October 8
Yankee Stadium
56,281[ 28]
2
Boston Red Sox – 2, New York Yankees – 6
October 9
Yankee Stadium
56,295[ 29]
3
New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 3
October 11
Fenway Park
34,209[ 30]
4
New York Yankees – 2, Boston Red Sox – 3
October 13
Fenway Park
34,599[ 31]
5
New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 2
October 14
Fenway Park
34,619[ 32]
6
Boston Red Sox – 9, New York Yankees – 6
October 15
Yankee Stadium
56,277[ 33]
7
Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Yankees – 6 (11 innings)
October 16
Yankee Stadium
56,279[ 34]
Awards and honors
All-Star Game
Farm system
The Portland Sea Dogs replaced the Trenton Thunder as the Red Sox' Double-A affiliate. The Red Sox fielded two teams in the Dominican Summer League , while not participating in the Venezuelan Summer League , following the Venezuelan general strike of 2002–03 .[ 35]
Source:[ 36] [ 37] [ 38]
References
^ "2003 MLB Summary" . Baseball-Reference . Retrieved August 22, 2015 .
^ "Red Sox announce 2004 Major League coaching staff" . Boston Red Sox. January 9, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2017 .[dead link ]
^ "MLB Team Hitting Statistics" . MLB.com . Retrieved August 7, 2017 .
^ Rousos, Rick (May 28, 2003). "Red Sox Settle $3.15 Million Sex Abuse Lawsuit" . The Ledger . Retrieved September 29, 2021 .
^ Golenbock, Peter (2015). Red Sox Century: The Rich and Colorful History of the Boston Red Sox (4th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Triumph Books . p. 457. ISBN 978-1-62937-050-7 .
^ a b c Stout, Glenn; Johnson, Richard A. (2004). Red Sox Century: The Definitive History of Baseball's Most Storied Franchise (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin . p. 454.
^ Lewis, Michael (2003). Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game . New York, New York: W. W. Norton & Company . p. 278.
^ a b Shpigel, Ben (November 1, 2005). "Red Sox General Manager Ends a Memorable Run" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 21, 2010 .
^ Brandon Lyon Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Chris Coste Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
^ Wayne Gomes Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Todd Walker Statistics and History - Baseball–Reference.com
^ Jeremy Giambi Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Ramiro Mendoza Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
^ Bill Mueller Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ David Ortiz Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
^ Kevin Millar Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Bill Haselman Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Byung-Hyun Kim Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Gabe Kapler Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
^ Scott Sauerbeck Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Chad Fox Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Scott Williamson Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Freddy Sanchez Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Dave McCarty Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Lou Merloni Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Nowlin, Bill; Silverman, Matthew (June 28, 2016). Red Sox by the Numbers: A Complete Team History of the Boston Red Sox by Uniform Number . Sports Publishing. ASIN B01GNC7FQA .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 1 – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 2 – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 3 – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 4 – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 5 – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 6 – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ "2003 ALCS Game 7 – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees" . Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008 .
^ Edes, Gordon (April 16, 2003). "Red Sox Notebook" . The Boston Globe . p. F3. Retrieved September 22, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition . Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
^ "Red Sox minor league system at a glance" . The Boston Globe . February 2, 2003. p. 42. Retrieved March 11, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
^ Boston Red Sox Media Guide . 2003. p. 390. Retrieved March 14, 2021 – via Wayback Machine .
Further reading
External links
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