Phillies win it, with a perfect ending to an imperfect World Series

It was fitting that Brad Lidge finished a perfect season - 48 for 48 in save opportunities - by saving the most imperfect of World Series games.

Two days after starting Game 5, the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays finished it on Wednesday, and the Phillies finished off their first championship since 1980 with the 4-3 victory on a chilly night in Philadelphia.

Lidge flirted with a little danger, putting a runner on second in the ninth inning before retiring Ben Zobrist on a line-out to right field and striking out pinch hitter Eric Hinske to end it.

"I thought the law of averages would catch up with our closer tonight, but he hung in there and did a great job," Phillies GM Pat Gillick said to the AP.

Added reliever Ryan Madson: "It's unbelievable, unheard of what he did this season. If he's not perfect, we're in a predicament."

The Phillies were perfect in another way - at home in the postseason. They were 7-0, winning Games 1 and 2 over the Brewers, Games 1 and 2 over the Dodgers and Games 3, 4 and 5 over the Rays. They are the second team to ever accomplish that, joining the 1999 Yankees.

Cole Hamels was named MVP of the series after a game that he originally pitched in two days earlier, which had to be a first in baseball history.

"That was the worst weather I've pitched in in my entire life," Hamels said to the Associated Press. "I feel like I succeeded even with all the hard conditions that were thrown my way."

Because Philadelphia scored in the bottom of the sixth inning - he had pitched the top half on Monday - he was in line for the victory, but the Rays tied the game again in the seventh.