Arizona late show stuns Yankees

Arizona celebrate their remarkable World Series win

Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 New York Yankees
(Arizona win the best-of-seven series 4-3)

The Arizona Diamondbacks produced two runs in a wild final inning to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 and clinch the World Series title.

The Yankees had taken a 2-1 lead thanks to Alfonso Soriano's home run in the eighth inning.

But the Diamondbacks ninth-inning performance managed to top the two last-gasp New York wins in games four and five.

Luis Gonzalez got the decisive hit - a blooped single over the drawn-in New York infield - to secure Arizona's victory.

This is probably going to go down as one of the best World Series ever

Luis Gonzalez
Arizona

Veteran first baseman Mark Grace began the D-backs' rally with a lead-off single. Damian Miller then tried to bunt pinch-runner David Dellucci to second.

Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera went for the force at second base, but his throw was poor and now Arizona had two men on with no outs.

Jay Bell was next up and he also bunted - this time New York got the force at third.

That brought Tony Womack to the plate and he doubled to right field to bring home Midre Cummings, running for Miller, for the tying run.

The normally unflappable Rivera then hit Craig Counsell with a pitch to load the bases, with dangerman Gonzalez on deck.

We're obviously disappointed in the result, but not the effort

Joe Torre
Yankees manager

And his streaky single was enough to score Bell and take the Series.

Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly was delighted with victory.

"I just couldn't be prouder of our guys," he said.

"We gave it our best shot and it all worked out."

Danny Bautista's hit had given Arizona the lead in the sixth innning.

But Tino Martinez's hit in the top of the seventh inning allowed Derek Jeter in to score and level the game.

New York then took the lead when Alfonso Soriano struck a solo home run in the eighth innning.

Soriano's home run looked to have won it

With Rivera, chasing his 24th straight post-season save, on the mound, that lead would normally have been enough.

But the dogged D-backs had other ideas.

Yankees manager Joe Torre was pleased with his players' performances over the series.

"We're obviously disappointed in the result, but not the effort," he said.

The Arizona pitchers again played a key part in victory.

Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson was put into play just before the final innings when the Diamondbacks were trailing 2-1.

And he continued his fine form by not letting a single Yankees batter reach first base.

Curt Schilling had earlier produced a masterful display, at one point getting out 16 Yankees in a row.

Johnson and Schilling are now linked in history not only as World Series winners - but also as the joint winners of the most valuable player award.