Godzilla Records Monster Night: Gets MVP

He only had one thing on his mind all night – make solid contact.

New York Yankees Hideki MatsuiHideki Matsui, 35, earned his ‘Godzilla’ moniker last night by crushing the ball and Philadelphia’s slim World Series hopes as he led the pinstripes to their 27th World title in a 7-3 Game 6 rout. The Yankees won the Series 4 games to 2.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."

Number 55 stomped to the plate and crushed three out of four offerings - nearly completing the cycle. His Series-terminating appearances racked up a record tying 6 RBI, including a single, a double and a second-inning, 2 RBI homerun. For the 2009 World Series, Matsui hit .615 in 13 plate appearances. His number of plate appearances was limited because of the National League rules against using a designated hitter. He hit three dingers in three games.

Matsui’s heroics also broke the hex of the brand new $1.5 billion, Yankee Stadium and earned him World Series MVP honors in what could be his last year as a Yankee.

"He was such a tremendous player in Japan. He was a king over there,'' said Yankees assistant GM Jean Afterman to a contingent of reporters and who was instrumental in bringing Matsui from Japan to the U.S. "But he knew immediately that he would have to work hard to achieve here what he achieved in Japan. He set his mind to it from the moment he got here.''

Godzilla wasn’t the only Yankee capable of pounding his chest last night.

Shortstop Derek JeterDerek Jeter scorched the Phillies pitching ranks going 3 for 5 in front of 55,000 rabid Bronx borough boosters and recording .423 for the Series.

The Yankees drew first blood in the second inning on Matsui’s homer. Philly immediately responded with one in the third. But then, the home team started to pile on.

They added two more in the bottom of the third and three more in the bottom of the fifth, before a staggering Philadelphia squad could respond with 2 in the top of the sixth.

To the surprise of few, Mariano RiveraMariano Rivera strolled unsmilingly to the mound in the top of the eighth.

Game. Set. Match.

Rivera cut through the remaining order, giving up a double to Jose Ibanez on an ill-played shot to centerfield.

For sophomore manager Joe GirardiJoe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, this victory signified the fulfillment of a mission. When he took over from Joe TorreJoe Torre in October 2007, Girardi picked uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see.

Game Notes: Rivera recorded a fourth time getting the final out of a World Series. ... Yankees LF Johnny DamonJohnny Damon was hobbled with a strained right calf muscle three innings before the game ended.