NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- New York closer Mariano Rivera was named MVP of the American League Championship Series Thursday night after three innings of dramatic relief work.
Rivera worked the ninth, 10th and 11th innings in Thursday night's Game 7 to keep Boston off the scoreboard until the Yankees could prevail on Aaron Boone's home run.
New York's 6-5 victory in 11 innings pushed the Yankees into the World Series.
Rivera became the sixth member of the Yankees in the last eight seasons to be named MVP of the ALCS, joining Andy Pettitte, David Justice, Orlando Hernandez, David Wells and Bernie Williams.
Rivera was the sixth New York pitcher to see action Thursday night. He allowed two hits and struck out three in his three innings of work.
He had not pitched three innings in one game since the 1996 World Series, when he was the setup man for David Wetteland.
