Key Moments On The Red Sox's 2021 Journey To The ALCS

Boston MA

15 October, 2021

4:15 PM

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BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox season has been all about knocking expectations out of the park. Few MLB analysts before the season had the Red Sox even winning 85 games, never mind making it all the way to American League Championship Series. Though few experts believed, Red Sox players and coaches had high expectations from the get go. "I mean, here we are surprising everybody but ourselves," Red Sox outfielder Kike Hernandez said after hitting a walk off sacrifice fly against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the American League Divisional Series. "We knew in spring training we had the team to make it this far, and here we are." And now the Houston Astros stand as the final obstacle, as the Sox try to win four games and advance to the World Series. Game 1 is Friday night on Fox, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:07 p.m. Also read: Boston Red Sox-Houston Astros ALCS 2021: Schedule, What To Know It's been quite a journey for the Red Sox to get to this point in the season. From high and low streaks, to battling COVID-19, and duking it out with two division rivals just to get to this point, there's been plenty of moments that helped define the Red Sox's 2021 season. See some of those in photo gallery form below: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images Infielder Christian Arroyo reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on June 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. This was one of Boston's two wins against the Astros. TO advance to the World Series, the Red Sox will need to be better than their 2-5 they posted against Houston in the regular season. Jim Rogash/Getty Images Outfielder Kyle Schwarber turned out to be the Red Sox biggest acquisition at the trade deadline. The slugger helped keep the team afloat, when Boston had a major COVID-19 outbreak and had around a dozen players quarantining. That outbreak started on Aug. 28 with Kike Hernandez. On Sept. 2, (pictured above) Schwarber was crucial in helping the Sox get a 4-0 win over the Rays, going 2 for 5 and scoring a run. Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images Third baseman Rafael Devers has come up with some key home runs and RBIs all season. But one of his most monumental dingers of the season came in the last regular season game on the road against the Washington Nationals. The Red Sox and the New York Yankees both finished 92-70 on the season, so Boston needed ever win it got to nab a playoff spot and homefield advantage against the Yankees in the play-in game. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Schwarber once again came up huge, this time in the American League WIld Card gamed against Boston's bitter rivals, the New York Yankees. In the third inning, Schwarber hit a solo home run to give Boston a 3-0 lead. The Red Sox would go on to win the game 6-2. Best Moments from the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. Game 4: Boston Red Sox (6) vs Tampa Bay Rays (5) AP Photo/Charles Krupa Boston Red Sox Kike Hernandez, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a sacrifice fly ball to score Danny Santana to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth inning during Game 4 of the series, Monday, October 11, 2021, in Boston. October 11, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa A close up of Enrique Hernandez reacting after hitting the sacrifice fly ball. October 11, 2021; AP Photo/Michael Dwyer Teammates join Enrique Hernandez, second from left, to celebrate the victory. October 11, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa Boston Red Sox Alex Verdugo reacts after batting in a run on a double during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 in Boston. October 11, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa Boston Red Sox Xander Bogaerts, right, is congratulated by designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) after scoring on a double by Alex Verdugo during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 in Boston. October 11, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa The Boston Red Sox pose for a photo on the field after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 in Boston. Game 3: Boston Red Sox (6) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (4) AP Photo/Michael Dwyer Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe (10) leaps as the ball, hit by Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Kiermaier, bounces over the wall for a ground rule double during the thirteenth inning during Game 3 of the series, Sunday, October 10, 2021, in Boston. October 10, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa Boston Red Sox Christian Vazquez celebrates as he approaches home plate after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the thirteenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 3 in Boston. October 10, 2021; AP Photo/Michael Dwyer Boston Red Sox Christian Vazquez is mobbed by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the thirteenth inning. October 10, 2021; AP Photo/Charles Krupa Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the thirteenth inning. Game 2: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays AP Photo/Steve Helber Boston Red Sox's J.D. Martinez (28) is greeted at home plate by Rafael Devers, center, after Martinez hit a three-run home run during the fifth inning, as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino, right, looks down during Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series, Friday, October 8, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Florida. October 8, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida; AP Photo/Steve Helber Boston Red Sox's Alex Verdugo pumps his fist after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning. October 8, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida; AP Photo/Chris O'Meara Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, right, is congratulated by third base coach Carlos Febles (52) after his solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning. The Associated Press contributed to this post.