Yankees win 27th World Series title
NEW YORK (MCT) — Mariano Rivera had stood here before and kept picturing himself here again — delivering the final pitch of a World Championship season.
Nine years after their last title, the Yankees finally were the last team standing with a 7-3 victory over the reigning champion Phillies on Wednesday night in Game 6 of the 105th World Series at Yankee Stadium.
With a World Series record-tying six RBIs in Game 6, Series MVP Hideki Matsui had carried the Yankees to this moment, aiding starter Andy Pettitte — who was pitching on short rest for the first time since 2006.
From the moment Pettitte jogged off to a standing ovation in the sixth, Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte got it to Rivera, who had last recorded the final out of a Yankees’ World Championship in 2000, against the Mets.
The first season at their new ballpark finished with the franchise’s 27th world championship, matching the number on manager Joe Girardi’s back. He chose it to symbolize the Yanks’ quest, and he delivered — after missing the playoffs in 2008, his first year as Joe Torre’s successor.
That only turned up the flame on Girardi in 2009.
“It’s a credit to these guys,” GM Brian Cashman said. “They worked extremely hard to be the last team standing.”
And there was the pressure to win one for George Steinbrenner, the 79-year-old owner who has now lorded over seven world titles since he bought the club in 1973.
“This one is for Mr. Steinbrenner,” said Jorge Posada.
Though he was here for the opening games of the Series, The Boss wasn’t here to see the Yankees win it by bullying their old rival, Pedro Martinez — chased after four innings, almost single-handedly by Matsui.
In what could have been his final game as a Yankee, Matsui slammed a two-run homer in the second inning and a two-run double in the third off Martinez, who was mercilessly taunted by the sellout crowd.
“It’s unbelievable; I’m surprised myself,” Matsui said of the MVP through an interpreter. “I love New York, I love the fans. I hope everything works out (to return again).”
After Derek Jeter doubled and scored on Mark Teixeira’s fifth-inning single off Chad Durbin, Matsui struck again — this time with a two-run double off the lower part of the right-center field wall against lefty J.A. Happ.
Matsui now will be fitted for his first World Series ring after having won three Japan League titles with the Yomiuri Giants — including the 2000 championship, when Matsui was MVP.
Without the use of the designated hitter rule in the NL park, Matsui did not start in Games 3, 4 and 5 in Philadelphia but still delivered eight hits in 13 Series at-bats, with three home runs and eight RBIs. His six RBIs matched Yankee Bobby Richardson’s mark in Game 3 of the 1960 World Series against Pittsburgh.
And Matsui’s eight RBIs matched the Yankees’ record for most in a Series; Reggie Jackson drove in eight in the 1977 and 1978 Fall Classic.
Pitching with a 7-1 lead, Pettitte heard the fans loudly chant his name as he battled through the sixth inning.
“I got one for the thumb,” Pettitte said of his latest ring.
Pettitte’s fifth and final walk of the night, to Chase Utley, came right before Ryan Howard delivered an opposite-field shot — his first home run of this World Series. And when Raul Ibanez laced a two-out double, Pettitte was finished.
As he bounced toward the dugout, Pettitte paused to acknowledge the crowd of 50,315 with a few waves of his cap.
The last time Pettitte had pitched on short rest in the postseason was Game 2 of the 2003 World Series, when he blanked the Marlins over 8 2/3 innings for the win.
Six years later, Pettitte, 37, grinded through 94 pitches in 5 2/3 innings, and even showed a surprisingly emotional side — getting into a heated exchange with plate umpire Joe West after the fourth inning, when he walked two batters on close pitches.
Pettitte gave up three runs on four hits and struck out three, and wound up 4-0 in this postseason.
In his career against Martinez during the regular season, Matsui is just 4-for-28, but the postseason has been another story.
