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Jacoby Ellsbury was just 18 years old on September 11, 2001. Eleven years later, he collected four hits—including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth—to
beat the Yankees, 4-3. Jacoby became the first Red Sox player with at least four hits—including a walk-off—against the Yankees since Vern Stephens
over sixty-one years ago. In a game that matters for the Yankees, but maybe matters
even more for Red Sox fans, the Empire was knocked out of sole possession of first place with the loss. After falling behind 3-2 in the sixth, Boston was buoyed by Dustin Pedroia's game-tying HR (his third hit). Jon Lester gutted it out through 5 1/3—giving up just five hits, but walking a career-high seven. Pedro Ciriaco again played the role of Yankee-Killer—getting two hits and speeding around to score the winning run ahead of the throw from Ichiro. It was not a pretty win, but the kind of victory we used to get over New York—back when the games were truly meaningful.
