Hideki Matsui produced one of the greatest big-game performances in Major League Baseball playoff history as the New York Yankees beat Philadelphia 7-3 on Wednesday to win their 27th World Series title.
Matsui drove in six runs on three hits, including his third home run in the best-of-seven final, and became the first Asian to win World Series Most Valuable Player honors as the Yankees defeated the Phillies 4-2.
“This is the best moment of my life,” Matsui said through a translator. “It’s awesome. It’s just unbelievable. I’m surprised myself. All I can say is I feel so happy right now. It feels great.”
The Yankees, with baseball’s largest payroll at US$201 million, extended the greatest legacy of championship success in North American pro sports by claiming their first crown since 2000.
“It’s back where it belongs,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said as he held the champions’ trophy above his head.
Yankees designated hitter Matsui smashed a two-run homer to right field in the second inning, added a two-run single in the third and a two-run double in the fifth.
The 35-year-old Japanese star matched the World Series one-game record for knocking in runs set by Yankees star Bobby Richardson in 1960.
Matsui’s heroics came in what could be his final game in a Yankees uniform since he was not signed beyond this season, but he achieved the dream he had when he joined the Yankees in 2003 of capturing a World Series crown.
Matsui batted .615 for the Series, going 8-for-13 with eight runs batted in, including two prior solo homers in the Series.
Andy Pettitte won his record 18th playoff game and second of the Series.
The Yankees won the crown in their first season in the new US$1.5 billion ballpark, just as in 1923 they claimed their first-ever Series crown in the debut year of the now-closed original Yankee Stadium across the street.
New York became the first World Series champions since Minnesota in 2001 to use only a three-man starting rotation of pitchers, including last year’s free agent signees Pettitte, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.
Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez, whose season began with a February admission of taking steroids from 2001 through 2003, finally claimed a World Series title after 15 years of failure.
New York brought in closing relief ace Mariano Rivera to secure the final five outs and the 39-year-old Panamanian did his job to touch off a wild celebration.
Defending champions the Phillies failed in their repeat quest. No team has taken back-to-back titles since 1976.
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