For the Yanks, it was their 27th Series title and first since 2000 as they christened swanky new Yankee Stadium in proper fashion, their first at home since 1999 when they swept the Atlanta Braves.
Fans came to see Martinez, the ex-Boston Red Sox villain buried. They came to see the Yankees conquer. They came to sing and chant: "Who's your daddy?"
Well, how do you say: "I'm your daddy" in Japanese?
"Ore ga Oyaji da," according to Japanese scribe Gaku Tashiro.
All Matsui did last night, en route to capturing the World Series MVP award, was:
* Pull the eighth pitch of his second-inning at-bat against Martinez for a towering drive down the right field line into the upper deck Komatsu ad for a two-run homer.
* After falling behind 0-2, lined a two-run single to centre, putting the Yanks up 4-1 in the third. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel let Martinez face Matsui, despite having warmed up lefty J.A. Happ.
* Drive a 3-1 pitch from Happ halfway up the wall in right centre giving the Yanks a 7-1 lead.
"Matsui hit fastballs, he hit sliders, he hit everything," Manuel said. "I met with the team after the game and I told them I was proud of them and that we'd be back. We will be back."
Matsui's six RBIs tied a Series record for most in a game held by former Yanks second baseman Bobby Richardson, who knocked in six in Game 3 in 1960 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In Matsui's five plate appearances against Martinez in this Series, he was 4-for-4 with two homers, two singles and a walk to drive in four.
"You think about the 450 at-bats he had this year, if he had played the whole season, he would have driven in 130 runs," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
When Matsui came up in the seventh against lefty Scott Eyre, fans chanted "MVP, MVP!" Even after he struck out.
Matsui hit .615 (8-for-13) with a double, three homers and eight RBIs to win the Series MVP.
"This one is for Mr. Steinbrenner," Girardi said hoisting the Series trophy over his head. "This is where we wanted to be. I picked (jersey) No. 27 for a reason when I was hired."
Working on three days rest Andy Pettitte left after 52/3 innings to a standing ovation. Pitching the sixth had to be difficult with the crowd chanting his name for a three at-bat stretch. Ryan Howard, who awakened from his Series slumber, quieted the crowd with a two-run homer to left.
After Howard's homer the Phillies had two men aboard when Chase Utley, who tied Reggie Jackson's Series record of five home runs the other night in Philadelphia, came to the plate with two out in the seventh. Girardi lifted Joba Chamberlain for lefty Damaso Marte who struck out Utley.
Marte struck out Howard to open the eighth and Mariano Rivera came on for a five-out save, retiring Shane Victorino on a ground ball to wrap it up.
BOB.ELLIOTT@SUNMEDIA.CA
