[AZTarHeel]

The bottom of the ninth was pretty anticlimactic. With Fenway mostly silent, thanks to the Dodgers' offensive explosion the half inning before, Trevor Hoffman took the mound and did his thing.

Hoffman struck out John Valentin, then got Donnie Sadler to hit into a harmless ground out to A-Rod at short. Two down and one to go.

While Brian Giles walked (probably the best move considering his two home runs on the night), centerfielder Donzell McDonald flied out to right-center to end the game, a high fly ball that seemed to hang in the air half the night. Johnny Damon easily settled under it, and as he squeezed the final out of the 2002 World Series firmly into his glove, the Dodgers dugout streamed out onto the field, with hugs and pile-ons aplenty.

Los Angeles 12, Boston 11. Dodgers four wins in the World Series, Red Sox zero.

Zarzour had no shame in joining the shameless celebration at the pitcher's mound. To heck with all those home runs given up a few hours earlier. Forget his ignominious place in history. He was a World Series champion! Zarzour found Josh Hamilton, who had a phenomenal post-season (batting .457, with six doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and nine runs scored) and the two jumped up and down like little kids as they did their crazy little high five dance that they started back in Single A.

"We did it, buddy! We did it!" Josh kept saying. "Forget those homers, my man. You're a champ. We're freakin' World Champions!!!"

Indeed, they were. All they lacked was the champaign bath, and that would come soon enough...