Yankees watch ’04 clip vs. Red Sox ahead of Game 4 defeat to Astros

Before their 6-5 Game 4 defeat to the Houston Astros on Sunday, the New York Yankees made their players watch a 2004 clip of a game against the Boston Red Sox.

With a 0-3 deficit, the Red Sox defeated the Yankees and denied New York the World Series ticket. On Sunday, however, Houston eliminated New York, who was on a 0-3 record, from the ALCS.

Yankees general manager Aaron Boone confirmed the move ahead of the loss at Yankees Stadium. He said the team’s director of mental health conditioning, Chad Bohling, had shared the clip for inspiration. The move bore no fruits, and the Yankees were defeated 4-0 in the series.

“We watched that video. We sent it out to the coaches and players,” Boone said.

Boston is the only franchise to have taken over a championship round after losing the first three games of a championship series. The Yankees witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in the MLB’s history, with the series being dragged to Game 7. The Red Sox won all four games after Game 3.

Boone added the team had been in contact with former Red Sox designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz for comeback advice. Ortiz retired in 2016 and was there when Boston defeated New York in 2004. The general manager declined to reveal what the advice was.

On Sunday, NY took control of the first two innings with three runs, only to have Houston bounce back with four in the following inning. The Yankees added another two in the fourth and sixth, but they failed to prevent the Astros’ two runs in the seventh.

Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader made five at-bats, three runs, and a single RBI. Meanwhile, slugger Aaron Judge was limited to four at-bats and one walk.

With the defeat, the Yankees will have to try again next season to win their first World Series title since 2009. Meanwhile, the Astros will play the Philadelphia Phillies for this year’s championship.