Yankees clinch World Series title

New York Yankees collected a record 27th World Series title with a 7-3 home victory over Philadelphia Phillies to take the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Hideki Matsui hit a record six RBIs and became the first Japanese-born player to be named Most Valuable Player.

His second inning two-run homer put the Yankees into the lead and he hit a two-run single and two-run double.

"This is the best moment of my life," Matsui, 35, said after helping the Yankees to a first triumph since 2000.

"When I was in Japan, that was the ultimate goal. Being here, winning the World Series, becoming world champions, that's what you strive for.

"It's been a long road and very difficult journey."

Matsui's feat, in game six of the finals, tied former Yankee Bobby Richardson's 49-year-old record for RBIs in a World Series game, however nobody had previously achieved the feat in a deciding game.

A designated hitter, Matsui, who may have been playing his last game for the Yankees as his contract is due to run out, hit .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs during the World Series.

"He hit everything we threw up there," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

"But I told them that I loved the way they played. We're fighters and never quit," Manuel added.

"We want to keep what we got as far as attitude and chemistry."

After his two-run drive off Pedro Martinez, which allowed Alex Rodriguez to score, in the second inning of game six, Matsui hit a two-run single, with Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon scoring, on an 0-2 pitch in the third.

Jeter scored in the bottom of the fifth off a Mark Teixeira RBI single to put the Yankees 5-1 up against a Phillies team that was looking to retain the World Series crown it won last year.

Matsui then cracked a two-run double off the right-centre fence against left-arm pitcher J.A. Happ and Teixeira and Rodriguez both scored.

Ryan Howard's sixth-inning home run for the visitors, that allowed Chase Utley to score, proved a mere consolation.

Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte became the first to start and win the clinching game in all three postseason rounds after also beating Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the American League playoffs.

The 37-year-old left-hander lasted into the sixth inning, allowing three runs, four hits and five walks.

Relief pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte combined for five outs without giving up a run before Mariano Rivera secured the final five outs.

The victory caps a season that started in turmoil for the Yankees, who moved into their new $1.5bn stadium amidst a steroids scandal involving star player Rodriguez, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.

"My team-mates and organisation stood right next to me," Rodriguez said. "Now we're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party."

Team president Randy Levine added: "The Yankees won. The world is right again."

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