Hideki Matsui homered and drove in a World Series record-tying six runs as the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday to win their first series title since 2000 and 27th overall.
Matsui became the first Japanese-born World Series MVP after driving in two runs in each of his first three at-bats with a homer, a single and a double in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium.
"It's an unbelievable feeling. We kept playing hard for this moment. It was the biggest goal of my career," Matsui said. "The Yankees were making the World Series almost every year and became world champions many times before I joined the team (in 2003). It was a long road for me."
The designated hitter homered on a 3-2 fastball from Pedro Martinez to put the Yankees up 2-0 in the second inning. It was Matsui's third home run of this Fall Classic.
Alex Rodriguez drew a walk leading off the inning and Matsui had an eight-pitch at-bat against Martinez, fouling off three pitches from the right-hander before drilling an 89 mph fastball into the upper deck in right field.
Jimmy Rollins had a sacrifice fly in the top of the third but Matsui lined a two-run bases-loaded single up the middle in the bottom half to make it 4-1 and doubled in two more runs in the fifth.
Derek Jeter had a ground-rule double with none out in the fifth and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming home on a Mark Teixeira single. After another walk to Rodriguez, Matsui doubled to right to extend the lead to 7-1.
"I'm surprised that I had a big night. I don't really know what to say," Matsui said when asked to comment on his six-RBI performance and series MVP award. "I never thought I was having tough times even when I was rehabilitating injuries."
Andy Pettitte, pitching on three days' rest, allowed three runs in 5- 2/3 innings. Martinez was chased after four innings.
Matsui finished the night 3-for-4 after striking out in the seventh. He batted .615(8-for-13) with three home runs and eight RBIs in the series.
In the 1960 World Series, Bobby Richardson drove in six runs for the Yankees in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
