The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 85

The grand opening year for the Yankee Stadium concluded in grand fashion, with Hideki Matsui tying a World Series record by driving in six runs in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees won the World Series in six games, just as they did in the inaugural season of the old Yankee Stadium, in 1923. Babe Ruth hit three home runs in that World Series. Matsui hit three home runs in this one. He batted .615 too, earning most-valuable-player honors.

Alex Rodriguez hit .365 in the postseason run, as the team with highest- paid player won the World Series for the first time since 1986. going to Rodriguez told the crowd, holding the World Series trophy aloft. When he got his hands on the trophy again, he hoisted it in front of the fans behind the dugout. No longer need Rodriguez be reminded of his postseason failures, Cashman said. the rest of his career, he can rewrite Cashman said.

The Yankees won their first World Series championship in nine years and their 27th overall. The St. Louis Cardinals rank second, with 10 titles. Ruth led the Yankees to their first four titles, but he never drove in six runs in a World Series game. Matsui tied the World Series record, set by Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson in 1960.

Matsui hit a two-run home run in the second inning, a two-run single in the third inning and a two-run double in the fifth inning, single-handedly transforming the clincher from a nailbiter into a countdown to victory. Mariano Rivera, the incomparable closer, threw the final pitch of the season. Rivera joined Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Andy Pet- titte as five-time champions in New York. Pettitte earned his 18th postseason victory, an ongoing major league record. He became the first pitcher to start and win the clinching game in the division series, league championship series and World Series.

Neither Pettitte nor Pedro Martinez, the starter, showed dominating stuff. Pettitte did not throw a pitch harder than 91 mph, did not throw a 1-2-3 inning, walked five and threw a wild pitch. He gave up three runs in 5 2 3 innings, working on short rest. When Manager Joe Girardi removed him, Pet- titte practically charged off the mound, jogging toward the dugout and wearing a wide smile. Martinez, unwanted by any team four months ago, staged a terrific comeback with the Phillies, starting with three appearances in the minor leagues and ending with two appearances in the World Series.

He turned 38 last month, and perhaps his two strong playoff starts against the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series and against the Yankees in Game 2 will persuade a team to give him a job next spring. If not, the career of the future Hall of Fame memberand three-time Cy Young Award winner ended on a sour note. Martinez had next to nothing. He did not throw a pitch above 86 mph in the first inning, did not throw a pitch above 90 mph allgame and retired four of 10 batters in a decisive stretch of the second and third innings. He gave up four runs in four innings, although he did strike out five.

The Phillies concluded their season as back- to-back NL champions, and Manager Charlie Manuel set a third consecutive World Series trip as the 2010 mission. goal is to come back and play Manuel said, hopefully we play the Yankees bill.shaikin@latimes.com Jim McIsaac Getty Images GOOD CARRY: Raul Ibanez of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a broken-bat double in the eighth inning as New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada and plate umpire Joe West watch. Yankees earn their 27th Series crown World Series, from LATIMES.COM/SPORTS C5 What has gotten into Chris Kaman and will it stay there? The center has bolted from the gate to a level that has surprised many. After six seasons in which he averaged 10.4 points a game the last two when he was hampered with injuries is averaging 22.6 points a game through the first five games of this season. That included 25 points in the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, the first victory of the seasonafter opening with four losses.

The 7-foot Kaman, 27, also appears to be doing a better job of mixing his repertoire of shots, including left- and right- handed hook shots and fall- away jump shots. So what accounts for the improvement? Hiswillingness to take more outside shots as opposed to driving to the basket, according to his coach. got this great touch, but he was always very reluctant to shoot Mike Dunleavy said Wednesday after the practice. The Clippers next play the Golden State Warriors on Friday. is something talked about for five Dunleavy said.

always on him, the ball. If open just shoot His tenden- cy has always been to put the ball on the floor and try to get closer and power his way in. But if not there, force the Kaman said that, so far this season, heeding the advice more often and getting more comfortable on outside shots, especially after building an indoor, full-court gym at his home in Grand Rapids, in the off-season. the summer I worked a lot on my jump shot, both left- and right-handed hooks, so I knew that was going to be a big part of my Kaman said. studied film from the last six years, and have seen what my mistakes have And what did he learn? just consistent enough my and be scared to take them the next he said.

Kaman, who is shooting from the field compared with a career average of 48.8% entering the season, said he also feared being labeled a ball- hog if he shot too much. not what he said. just trying to play the right way, do the right things and help my team Expanded coverage The Clippers entered an agreement with Los Angeles radio station KWKW-AM 1330 to broadcast 48 games in Spanish this season. The station will broadcast 31 home games and 17 road games starting with the home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. james.peltz@latimes.com CLIPPERS FYI Kaman gets comfortable outside Jim Peltz Stephen Dunn Getty Images HOT START: With hook shots and jump shots, Chris Kaman is averaging 22.6 points in five games.

The guest of honor was not in attendance. George Steinbrenner was not here to witness the first World Series championship in the House That George Built. Steinbrenner, 79, is in failing health. He made the trip from his Florida home for the first two games of the World Series, but he watched the clincher on television. was just teary-eyed, very said Hank Steinbrenner who said he spoke with his father via telephone.

George Steinbrenner retired from active management last year, naming sons Hank and Hal as the Yankees co-chairpersons. As the celebration wound down at Yankee Stadium, with the field and the stands almost cleared out, the video board displayed a picture of the World Series trophy, with this message: this is for Steinbrenner and his family are Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said. be able to deliver this to the Boss, with the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here, is very gratifying for all of Thanks and so long? World Seriesmost valuable player Hideki Matsui joined the Yankees in 2003, after a stellar career as a slugger in Japan. While Japanese pitchers and singles hitters had jumped to the major leagues and done well, power hitters had not. Matsui shouldered the hopes of an entire country, and a small army of Japanese reporters trailed him wherever he went.

He handled the reporters with grace and handled American League pitchers with relative ease, hitting at least 23 home runs in all but one of his injury-free seasons. He is eligible for free agency this fall, and he is 35. He might not return, but he would love the chance. love New he told the crowd. love the Yankees.

I love the fans Ring bearer Jose Molina the backup catcher, moved into the family lead with two World Series rings. His more acclaimed catching brothers, Bengie and Yadier have one ring apiece, Bengie from the 2002 Angels and Yadier from the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. Jose backed up his brother in 2002. This championship, he said, is dedicated to his father, Benjamin who died last fall after suffering a stroke while coaching baseball in Puerto Rico, on the same field where he taught the game to his three sons.

my inspiration, every time I go out Jose said. always will be. the one who raised us and taught us how to Victory for sale Never has a major league game been played beyond Nov. 4. The Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks played Game 7 of the 2001 World Series on that date, in a season delayed one week because of the attacks.

Under an agreement to delay the World Series to accommodate Fox, November baseball could become the rule rather than the exception. That led to a rare parlay here this week. Election Day was over, and baseball season was not. New billionaire mayor, Michael Bloomberg won re-election on Tuesday. Bloom- bergfinanced his re-election campaign for $90 million, the New York Times reported.

His opponent spent less than $6 million. Yankees buy pennants and we buy Ken Ficara a New York web developer, told the Times. bill.shaikin@latimes.com WORLD SERIES FYI Yankees dedicate win to Boss Bill Shaikin reporting from new york YANKEES 7, PHILLIES 3 PHILADELPHIAABRHBIAvg. Rollins ss4001.217 Victorino cf4010.182 Utley 2b3100.286 Howard 1b4112.174 Werth rf2000.263 Ibanez dh3020.304 P.Feliz 3b4000.174 B.Francisco lf3000.000 a-Stairs 1000.125 C.Ruiz c2120.333 Totals 30363 NEW YORKABRHBIAvg. Jeter ss5230.407 Damon lf1100.364 Hairston Jr.

lf2000.167 Teixeira 1b3111.136 A.Rodriguez 3b2210.250 H.Matsui dh4136.615 Posada c3000.263 Cano 2b4000.136 Swisher rf3000.133 Gardner cf4000.000 Totals 31787 NEW a-lined out for B.Francisco in the 9th. Philadelphia 7: Victorino 1, Utley 1, Werth 2, Ibanez 1, C.Ruiz 2. New York 5: Damon 1, A.Rodriguez 2, Posada 1, Swisher 1. Philadelphia 7: Utley 2, Howard 1, Werth 2, B.Francisco 2. New York 11: Damon 1, Teixeira 1, A.Rodriguez 1, H.Matsui 1, Posada 2, Cano 2, Swisher 1, Gardner 2.

Philadelphia 8, New York 7. Ibanez 2 (4), Jeter (3), H.Matsui (1). C.Ruiz (1). Howard (1), off Pettitte; H.Matsui (3), off P.Martinez. Rollins (2), Howard 2 (3), Teixeira (3), H.Matsui 6 (8).

Rollins (3), A.Rodriguez (1). Hairston Rollins. Runners left in scoring Philadelphia 6 (P.Feliz 4, Utley, Victorino); New York 3 (Posada, Cano 2). Rollins, Utley. New York 2 (Cano, Jeter, Teixeira), (A.Rodriguez, Cano, Teixeira).

PHILADELPHIAIPHRERBBSONPERA P.Martinez 1 3 233101527.00 S.Eyre......................................1 1 3 00012210.00 1 3 1000042.08 NEW YORKIPHRERBBSONPERA Pettitte 2 3 43353945.40 D.Marte 2............................... 2 3 0000260.00 Ma.Rivera.................................1 2 3 10011410.00 Inherited Happ 2-2, Park 1-0, S.Eyre 1-0, Chamberlain 1-0, D.Marte 2-0. by S.Eyre (Posada). by P.Martinez (Teixeira). Pettitte.

Posada. Joe West, Gerry Davis, Jeff Nelson, Brian Gorman 3:52. Tickets 50,315 Game 1: Phillies 6, Yankees 1 Game 2: Yankees 3, Phillies 1 Game 3: Yankees 8, Phillies 5 Game 4: Yankees 7, Phillies 4 Game 5: Phillies 8, Yankees 6 Game 6: Yankees 7, Phillies 3 WORLD SERIES Philadelphia vs. New York Yankees win best-of-seven series, 4-2 1.877.3GALAXY LAGALAXY.COM LAGALAXYFUTBOL.COM vS LAGALAXY ChivASUSA Presented by TiCKeTS On SALenOW FOr AS LOW AS $24.