Yankees win World Series

The Yankees celebrate a third straight World Series

New York Mets 2-4 New York Yankees
(Yankees win the series 4-1)

The New York Yankees clinched their 26th World Series after a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Mets thanks to two late runs in the ninth inning at Shea Stadium.

The Yankees registered their third consecutive World Series victory, the first team in 25 years to do so.

Luis Sojo was the Yankees' hero with a two-out single as he ran in the crucial runs to leave the Mets devastated after taking the Yankees right to the death.

"I don't know how to say how it feels," Sojo said. "They gave me the chance to come through and the way I did, it was incredible."

If that ball comes a fraction of a second sooner or an inch away from the guy's leg, Mike would have tagged him out and we would still be playing

  Mike Valentine

Mets' pitcher Al Leiter had struck out Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez at the top of the ninth.

But Jorge Posada walked, whilst he gave a single to Scott Brosius before Sojo hit a single up the middle.

The Yankees took another score when centre fielder Jay Payton's throw hit Posada and bounced into the Mets' dugout, allowing Scott Brosius to score as well.

"If that ball comes a fraction of a second sooner or an inch away from the guy's leg, Mike would have tagged him out and we would still be playing," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said

The Mets' resistance was finally broken when Mike Piazza flew out to centrefield for the final out as the Yankees' celebrations began.

Derek Jeter: Most Valuable Player

Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter's excellent form during the series was rewarded when he was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series.

The New York Mets had earlier taken advantage of some sloppy fielding and glovework from the Yankees to take a 2-1 lead at the bottom of the second inning.

Their first run came from the unlikely source of pitcher Al Leiter, who had no RBIs all season.

His bunt allowed him to register a grounder when first baseman Tino Martinez and pitcher Andy Pettitte both bobbled, leaving Bubba Trammell to run in the score.

Misfield

The very next pitch saw a misfield from Scott Brosius which gave Benny Agbayani the chance to run in for the second.

The Yankees got off to a good start after Bernie Williams hit a homer at the top of the second inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the fifth Subway Series match.

Williams hit a fine strike deep into the right field off left-arm pitcher Leiter as the Yankees took the early advantage at the Shea Stadium.

But Jeter, who became only the 16th player to hit a homer off the first pitch of a World Series game on Wednesday, hit his second consecutive home run to level the scores up at the top of the fourth inning off Leiter's throw.

As with the fourth match of the Subway Series, the last four innings remained scoreless as neither side could gain the advantage before Sojo dramatically swept the Yankees to victory.