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October 16th, 2004 – A date forever etched in the minds of Red Sox fans for what would eventually become a legendary postseason. But amid the noise of the eventual World Series triumph, one pivotal, often understated moment took place in Game 3 of the ALCS – an unsung act of endurance by knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who saved the bullpen, and ultimately, the Red Sox's hopes for a dramatic comeback.

The Boston Red Sox were down, severely. The New York Yankees had made it clear early that Game 3 of the ALCS would not be easy. With a scoreline that ballooned into an insurmountable deficit, Boston’s chances seemed to dwindle with each passing inning. In such moments, it’s typical for managers to turn to their bullpen to avoid further damage, but in a moment of desperation, Red Sox skipper Terry Francona made a choice that would become a defining moment of the series.

Tim Wakefield, a veteran with a history of reliable postseason appearances, was summoned to the mound to absorb the damage in the midst of a blowout.

His mission: take one for the team.

With a score that climbed into the double digits, Wakefield entered the game in the middle innings with the score heavily tilted in favor of the Yankees. Few players could have remained mentally sharp in such a chaotic situation, but Wakefield’s ability to maintain composure — a hallmark of his career — shone through.

For three full innings, the knuckleballer stood as the last line of defense, an unsung hero, a human sponge soaking up batter after batter. Facing 17 Yankees hitters, Wakefield worked tirelessly, throwing 40-plus pitches over the course of his outing, at times getting the ball to dance unpredictably, giving the Yankees fits in the process. More importantly, he kept his team in the game, giving Francona time to rest his bullpen and hold the hope of a late-game miracle alive.

By the time Wakefield walked off the mound, with the score still hanging in the balance, it was clear that his performance was no mere footnote in the disaster of Game 3. It was a display of resolve, of pitching craftiness when the odds were firmly stacked against him, of a veteran preserving both the physical and mental energy of a pitching staff that would soon need to show up when the game’s real stakes arrived.

The Red Sox’s eventual comeback — which culminated in one of the most famous moments in baseball history with the team's 2004 ALCS win — would not have been possible without that performance. The pitchers who followed Wakefield in that game, having been spared unnecessary work, were able to contribute to the rally that would keep Boston’s championship hopes alive.

Tim Wakefield’s efforts were not noticed by the national headlines at the time, overshadowed by the eventual redemption and rise of the Red Sox. However, his selflessness and poise amidst the chaos were symbolic of the resolve that would come to define that year’s unforgettable postseason.

In the end, it wasn’t just the timely home runs and clutch hits that turned the series. It was the ability of players like Wakefield to make the sacrifices necessary, even when facing what seemed like insurmountable odds. That Game 3, often overlooked in the grand story of the 2004 Red Sox, remains a crucial, if quiet, moment of heroism in the team's path to breaking the Curse of the Bambino.