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MLB: Yankees just champion

New Yorkers wrap up series with 7-3 home victory

By Alexander Ferguson Last updated: 5th November 2009

Yankees: 27th World Series title

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The New York Yankees are the 2009 World Series Champions after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in New York on Wednesday night to clinch the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Hideki Matsui, who was later named Most Valuable Player of the World Series, was the hero of the night, tying a World Series record with six runs batted in (RBIs), including a monster two-run home run off Pedro Martinez to open the scoring.

After Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Yanks' lead to 2-1, but Matsui's two-run single made it 4-1.

A Mark Teixeira single in the fifth made it 5-1, and Matsui's two-run double put the game virtually out of sight.

Ryan Howard hit a home run just inches over the left field fence to make it 7-3, but Mariano Rivera came on in the eighth and silenced any rally that Philadelphia had been hoping to get together.

Andy Pettitte was the hero of the mound, pitching 5 2/3 innings for three earned runs and four hits, and Joba Chamberlain, Damaso Marte and Mariano Rivera pitched almost faultlessly.

Despite the Yankees having the biggest payroll in baseball, the Bronx half of New York hadn't seen a World Series title since 2000. But now, they have.

"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions," said Alex Rodriguez. "We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party!"

About a million New Yorkers have the same feeling.