Hideki Matsui’s bat was all the Yankees needed to finish off the Phillies and win the World Series.
The Yanks’ DH went 3-for-4 with six RBI in the 7-3 Yankees Game 6 win.
The game was as much about what Matsui did as it was about what the defending-champion Phillies didn’t do.
It was do or die in the Bronx and the Phightins fell flat. They needed to come out strong against Yankee starter Andy Pettitte. But, Pedro Martinez and the Phillies came out Wednesday night against the Bronx Bombers without much umpf.
Matsui quickly capitalized on Pedro's subpar stuff by hitting a two-run homer to put the Yanks up for good in the second. He would tie a World Series record by knocking in six runs total in the game.
"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."
Matsui's efforts earned him Series MVP recognition. He batted .615 with three homers and eight RBI for New York.
Mariano Rivera recorded the final five outs, Derek Jeter had three hits and Alex Rodriguez scored two runs to help the Yankees wrap up a most successful first season in the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium.
"We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party," said a jubilant A-Rod.
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The bright spots for the Phillies were a triple and run scored from Carlos Ruiz, a two-run homer by Ryan Howard in the sixth and 3.1 innings of scoreless relief from the combination of J.A. Happ, Chan Ho Park, Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson.
But, the Phightins also saw Pedro get torched for four runs in just four innings, Chad Durbin give up three runs in relief, Game 5-hero Chase Utley strike out with two on and two out in the seventh and Howard strike out for his World-Series record 13th time.
Alas there would be no Game 7 -- Phillies lose the World Series in six.
After the loss Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wanted to focus on the future of his team.
"It's important in our next couple years to stay afloat," Manuel said. "I know we can do better."
And, there was one thing for Phillies fans to look forward to -- the Countdown to Clearwater was about 100 days and counting.
