BBC SPORT | Other Sports | US Sport | Angels clinch World Series

Anaheim Angels beat San Francisco 4-1 in the seventh and deciding game to claim their first ever World Series title.

Garret Anderson's three-run double framed another brilliant team effort as Anaheim displayed their never-say-die spirit once more.

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The Angels ended 42 years of frustration and capped an unlikely season thanks to some sparkling pitching from rookie John Lackey.

His form went a long way to denying the Giants and Barry Bonds the title, which they had come just eight outs away from claiming on Saturday.

Game seven: photo gallery

Lackey, a 24-year-old right hander who had never set foot on a major league mound until July, worked five strong innings to get the victory.

He becomes the first rookie in 93 years - since Babe Adams of the Pittsburgh Pirates - to win a game seven of a World Series.

Following Lackey to the hill were relievers Brendan Donnelly, Francisco Rodriguez and closer Troy Percival, adding four more shut-out innings to clinch the series 4-3.

Anaheim Angels' third baseman Troy Glaus celebrates the last out
Glaus shows his delight at victory
Once again, the Angels found themselves trailing early when Benito Santiago scored on Reggie Sanders' sacrifice fly with one out in the second inning.

But then Bengie Molina lined a double to the wall in centre field off Livan Hernandez to bring home Scott Spiezio.

A three-run outburst in the third left the Angels and their long-suffering supporters with the World Series title in their sights.

David Eckstein and Darin Erstad led off the big inning with identical singles before Hernandez hit Tim Salmon with a pitch to load the bases.

With the sell-out crowd of 44,598 on its feet screaming for more, Anderson dug in at the plate and smashed a curling line drive into the right-field corner.


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