2004 ALDS Game Five vs Yankees
A miraculous ninth-inning rally at Yankee Stadium that kept the Angels' World Series dream alive.
The 2004 American League Division Series Game Five stands as one of the most dramatic and defining moments in Los Angeles Angels franchise history. Faced with elimination against their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, at Yankee Stadium on October 13, 2004, the Angels mounted a miraculous comeback to force a decisive sixth game. This match is remembered not just for its intensity, but for the sheer improbability of overcoming a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning against one of baseball's greatest bullpens.
- Event
- 2004 ALDS Game 5
- Opponent
- New York Yankees
- Venue
- Yankee Stadium (The Bronx)
- Final Score
- Angels 6, Yankees 3
- Key Moment
- Bottom of the 9th Inning Comeback
- Series Result
- Forced Game 6
Lore & Background
However, history was about to rewrite itself in a flash of brilliance from shortstop Orlando Cabrera and center fielder David Eckstein. The game transformed from a potential funeral for the season into a celebration of resilience. It captured the essence of the 'Screwball' era Angels: a team that refused to quit regardless of the odds, embodying the chaotic hope that defines the franchise's most memorable nights.
In Their Own Story
The air in Yankee Stadium was thick with anticipation and tension as the third out seemed imminent. The Yankees dugout began to stir, celebrating what they thought was a victory. Then, Orlando Cabrera stepped up. The crack of the bat echoed through the Bronx, sending a line drive into right field that turned the crowd's roar from celebration to shock. As runners scrambled around the bases, David Eckstein stood ready at the plate, the weight of the franchise on his shoulders.
Reader's Guide
Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Angels trailed 3-0 with two outs against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The atmosphere was electric yet tense as shortstop Orlando Cabrera led off with a double to right field. After a wild pitch moved him to third, David Eckstein stepped in and hit a towering fly ball that appeared destined for the stands. Eckstein's shot cleared the fence in left-center field, a two-run homer that instantly erased the three-run deficit. With the score tied 3-3, the game went into extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth, Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus delivered clutch hits to drive in the winning runs. The Angels secured a stunning 6-3 victory, forcing a Game Six back in Anaheim. This match remains unforgettable because it defied all conventional baseball logic, overcoming the Yankees' dominance and a seemingly insurmountable deficit in their own stadium.
Did You Know?
- David Eckstein's two-run homer in the ninth inning is widely considered one of the greatest clutch hits in Angels history.
- The game was played at Yankee Stadium, making it an even more impressive feat to rally against the home crowd and their bullpen.
- This victory forced a Game 6, which the Angels would eventually win to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 1982.
- Orlando Cabrera's double set the stage for the entire comeback sequence in the bottom of the ninth.