BOSTON -- Mark Kotsay played an underrated role in one of the more thrilling, yet not often-enough discussed, playoff wins of the 21st century for the Red Sox.

Boston fell one game short of the World Series in 2008 after a Game 7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship. The final game at Fenway Park that season took place in Game 5 when the Red Sox launched a stunning comeback.

The ballclub sat nine outs from elimination and trailed their AL East rivals 7-0 in the seventh inning. Boston's lineup roared back in the late innings and tied the game in the eighth when Kotsay doubled and scored on a hit from Coco Crisp. J.D. Drew ultimately delivered the walk-off hit to score Kevin Youkilis in the ninth inning and complete the dramatic postseason victory.

Kotsay, now th

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