The New York Yankees and their fans don’t like losing. It’s even harder to take when it’s at the expense of the rival Boston Red Sox. And now, after dropping their eighth straight game against their division foes, one can’t help but wonder: Could Boston’s breaking of “The Curse” back in 2004 in turn have haunted the Yankees?
Ever since the Red Sox cemented a place in history in erasing an 0-3 deficit in the American League Championship Series five years ago before winning the World Series for the first time since 1918, the Bronx Bombers have struggled when October rolls around.
In the three postseasons that followed the comeback, New York was out after the Division Series, and in 2008, didn’t even qualify for the playoffs. While the Yankees haven’t celebrated a championship since 2000, which capped off a stretch of four titles in five years, they made it to the World Series in 2001 and 2003.
Red Sox Success Since Making Baseball History
On the flip side of the coin, Boston has only seen improvement since overcoming “The Curse of the Bambino.” It began with the 2004 World Series win. Since then, the Sox made the playoffs in three of the next four years, added another championship to their collection in 2007, and made it to the ALCS in 2008.
Two months into the 2009 campaign, Boston leads the American League East, albeit with a slim two-game hold over New York and three over the Toronto Blue Jays prior to MLB action on June 12.
Yankees’ Losses vs. Red Sox Could Impact Playoff Hopes
It looked like the Yankees might be able to salvage one at Fenway on Thursday, June 11, owning a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Red Sox, however, had other ideas. They loaded the bases with nobody out, chased starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia, and put up three runs on the board to take a 4-3 lead and eventual win.
Dating back to their last meeting in 2008, New York has dropped nine in a row to Boston and will have to wait nearly two months until they can at least try to stop the bleeding. The Yankees and Red Sox aren’t scheduled to meet again until a four-game set at Yankee Stadium on August 6.
One way or another, Joe Girardi and his charges will need to find a way to come out on top against their rival. Otherwise, they could be at home watching other teams compete come October, wondering what could have been.
