2005 Boston Red Sox Post-Season Results

Lost AL Division Series to Chicago White Sox (3-0)

2005 AL Division Series Results

Game 1: Chicago White Sox 14, Boston Red Sox 2
Game 2: Chicago White Sox 5, Boston Red Sox 4
Game 3: Chicago White Sox 5, Boston Red Sox 3

Note: Home team shown in bold text

Series Synopsis

Boston's opportunity to make it back-to-back championships after going 86 years between the last two is snuffed quickly with a three-game sweep at the hands of the eventual World Champion Chicago White Sox, who snap an 88-year championship drought. The slugging duo of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz combine for three home runs and five RBI, but the lackluster Red Sox offense manages just nine runs in the series. The pitching staff fairs no better with a 7.56 ERA and just 11 strikeouts combined.

Series Highlight

In Boston's best chance to win a game in the series, the Red Sox jump to a 4-0 lead with two runs each in the first and third innings while pitcher David Wells retires 12 of the first 13 batters he faces. However, Chicago gets on the board in the fifth with an Aaron Rowand RBI double and a Joe Crede RBI single. Wells then induces a ground ball to second that appears to have the makings of an inning-ending double play, but the usually sure-handed Tony Graffanino, a mid-season pickup, has the ball skip through his legs for an error. Two batters later with two outs, White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi hits a three-run home run off Wells to give the White Sox the sudden lead. Boston's only threat after that comes in the ninth with a one-out double by Graffanino that puts the tying run in scoring position, but Chicago closer Bobby Jenks gets Johnny Damon to foul-out to the catcher, then secures the win one pitch later as shortstop Edgar Renteria grounds out to short.