PHOENIX, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks provided the final magic of the 2001 baseball season Sunday night, rallying from a one-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth and using a bases-loaded single by Luis Gonzalez to defeat New York Yankees, 3-2, in the deciding game of the World Series.
After producing a series of amazing comebacks played out against the events of Sept. 11, the Yankees finally saw their run of championships come to an end.
It happened in improbable fashion, befitting the nature of a riveting World Series that was stretched the limits in what was the longest baseball season in history.
The Yankees, who rallied from a two-game deficit in the Division Series and from a two-game deficit over the past week against the Diamondbacks, came from behind again Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning on a home run by rookie Alfonso Soriano.
That brought on New York closer Mariano Rivera, who has been all but untouchable during the Yankees' three consecutive championship seasons.
Rivera allowed a two-out single in the eighth, but struck out the side, leaving the Diamondbacks with just three outs in their season. They wound up using only one of them.
Rivera came into the game with a 2-0 record, five saves and a 0.61 ERA during this year's playoffs.
Things began to unravel, however, when Mark Grace led off the ninth with a liner up the middle for a single. David Dellucci came on to pinch run and Damian Miller came to the plate to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Miller did that, but it came right back to Rivera, who then made the throw that ultimately cost the Yankees. The throw was wide right of second base and sailed into centerfield, putting runners on first and second with none out.
Jay Bell next pinch hit for Randy Johnson, who amazingly became the winning pitcher for the second straight night in relief of starter Curt Schilling. Bell also put a bunt down, but this time Rivera pounced on it and got the lead runner at third.
That turn of events brought Midre Cummings in to pinch run for Miller at second and Cummings promptly scored to tie the game when Tony Womack drove a looping liner down the right-field line.
With the winning run now on third base in the form of Bell, the Yankees chose to pitch to Craig Counsell. But Rivera hit Counsell with a pitch, loading the bases and bringnig up Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who had been the central power force in Arizona's lineup this season, did the damage with something far less than a homer. But his soft floater to center over the drawn-in infield was enough to deliver the winning run.
The Diamondbacks won the World Series in their fourth year of existance and did so 24 hours after Game 7 starter Schilling guaranteed his team would win.
"I didn't say how we would win it, I just said we would win it," Schilling said. "Whenever we had our backs to the wall, we came through. But my hat is off to the New York Yankees."
The loss was bittersweet for the Yankees, who took a 3-2 advantage in the World Series with back-to-back ninth-inning comebacks and extra-inning triumphs in New York.
"We're obviously disappointed in the result, but not the effort," New York manager Joe Torre said. "I told the players they gave everything they had. I congratulate the Diamondbacks.
"When the evening starts, if you are going to ask for one thing you would ask for our closer (Rivera) to be on the mound in the ninth inning. They beat our best.
"I think we picked up the personality of New York and all the heroes who have given of themselves. There is no question they inspired us. You don't always win. I always base my opinion on effort and desire and they fulfilled that."
In a tense confrontation which fit the winner-take-all nature of game, New York's Roger Clemens ultimately outdueled Schilling. Clemens allowed one run through 6 1/3 innings -- that coming on a single by Steve Finley and a double by Danny Bautista in the sixth.
But Schilling surrendered the tying run in the seventh on singles by Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez.
When Soriano led off the eighth with a homer, Schilling left the game in favor of Miguel Batista. And then, with two out and one on in the eighth, Johnson came in to finish things off.
Johnson, who threw more than 100 pitches Saturday night while Arizona was pounding out a 15-2 victory to even the Series, retired all four batters he faced.
Johnson and Schilling shared the MVP award after having combined to be the winning pitchers in all four of Arizona's World Series victories.
"New York is a class act," Schilling said in accepting the award. "They are a class act. We beat the best."
