Well, I predicted it in some of my previous posts and it turns out I was right. At 11:52 PM, Mariano Rivera sealed the deal for the New York Yankees in route to their 27th World Series Championship.

On a much debated start on 3 days rest, Andy Pettitte silenced the nay-sayers of Joe Girardi’s decision to start him on short rest; which he hasn’t done since 2003.  In obtaining the win, Pettitte not only added to his now record 17 postseason wins, but also added to his record of most postseason series clinching wins with 6 now.  Pettitte went 5 2/3 innings giving up 3 earned runs, 4 hits, 5 walks, and a homerun to Ryan Howard, who finally hit his first of the World Series.  Although these numbers aren’t the greatest, it was able to push the Yankees through due to their tremendous offensive production.

The Yankees were able to get 8 hits off of the 6 pitchers that the Phillies threw at them.  Those 8 hits, along with 5 walks drawn, accounted for the 7 runs the Yankees scored.  However, the man of the night was Hideki Matsui.  He was accountable for driving in 6 of the 7 runs that the Yankees scored tonight; tying Bobby Richardson’s record of 6 RBIs in a single World Series game which he set back in 1960.  I have to be completely honest in saying that I really thought that Chase Utley, whether the Yankees won or lost the World Series, was going to win the MVP with the hitting that he displayed throughout the series in tying Reggie Jackson’s record of most homeruns in a World Series.  However, as most of you know, Hideki Matsui ended up winning the World Series MVP, and rightfully so, in going 3-for-4 with a homerun, double and, like I mentioned before, 6 RBIs.  What he was able to do tonight was one of the best hitting displays I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch.  Matsui was probably one of the most unlikely person to win this MVP going into Game 6 but was one of the most pleasant surprises the Yankees have had in a while.

Matusi slams homer to right

Alex Rodriguez led off the bottom of the second with a walk on four straight pitches issued by Pedro Martinez and Matsui blasted a homerun into the right field seats on a full count.  In his next at bat with an 0-2 count and 2 outs with the bases loaded, Hideki dropped a single into shallow centerfield that scored Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez from 3rd and 2nd, respectively.  I really thought he was going to break Richardson’s record in his next at bat to be honest when I saw him drive the ball to right-center field.  However, he missed hitting a homerun and breaking that record by about 8-10 feet but hit a double that scored another 2 runs in Rodriguez and Teixeira.  His perfect night was ended in his fourth at bat when he struck out against Scott Eyre which ended his night.

Away from Andy Pettitte, who pitched a great game, the Yankees pitching was absolutely dynamite for the 3 1/3 innings that the bullpen took over for. Chamberlain came out of the pen for an inning of relief right after Pettitte was taken out.  He allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck 1 man out. Damaso Marte was then brought in to record the last out of the 7th inning and the first out of the 8th inning and struck out both batters he faced; Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. With 1 out in the top of the 8th inning, Joe Girardi made his way out to the mound to take the ball from Marte, motioned to the bullpen, and the infamous riff of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” began to rock Yankee Stadium as the legend, Mariano Rivera, made his way out to finish the game off in an inning and 2/3 of work.  He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one, closing the door on the hopes of the Phillies repeating a World Series championship.

Back on top of the baseball world!

It was clear to see that the Yankees completely dominated the Phillies in this game from the beginning in Pedro only going 4 innings and giving up 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5.  Chad Durbin then came in and gave up another 3 runs in only 1/3 innings of work.  Don’t get me wrong, though; the Phillies did have some bright spots tonight.  In his last 2 at bats, Raul Ibanez doubled in each of his final at bats and Carlos Ruiz smoked a triple off of Pettite in his first at bat which hit the wall a funny way, allowing him to make it to third.  Ryan Howard, on the bright side of this glum World Series, hit his first World Series homerun with Chase Utley on base, who had just been issued a walk.

So to recap some of the records broken or tied in this World Series:
*Andy Pettitte breaks record for most postseason wins by a single pitcher with 16, and further adds to it tonight by making it 17.
*Andy Pettitte breaks record for most postseason series clinching wins with number 5 (against the Angels) and 6 (against the Phillies)
*Hideki Matsui ties Bobby Richardson for most RBIs in a single World Series game with 6 in Game 6 of the World Series.
*Ryan Howard breaks the record for most strikeouts in a single World Series and sets it at 13.

Another gem by Mr. Pettitte

As I’ve said before, both of these teams equally deserved to be in the positions that they were in… the World Series.  In the end, however, it came down to who had the better starting pitching.  After Cliff Lee, the Phillies virtually had nobody; which is clear to why the Phillies won in the 2 games that Cliff Lee pitched.  In NO way am I trying to badmouth the Phillies but the Yankees were too much for them this series.  Congrats to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series title and may all the players, ESPECIALLY COLE HAMELS, have a well rested and productive offseason.

See you in the spring boys!