Cabrera drives Marlins to World Series

ROOKIE Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs and Josh Beckett tossed four superb innings in relief as the Florida Marlins posted a 9-6 triumph over the Chicago Cubs to qualify for baseball’s World Series.

While Florida advanced to the World Series for the second time in seven years and became just the fourth team to erase a 3-1 League Championship Series deficit since the best-of-seven format was adopted in 1985, they did so in excruciating fashion for Cubs’ fans.

Chicago led 3-1 but still felt in command after Beckett threw a gem in Game Five. Headed home with ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood slated to start the next two games, the Cubs looked certain to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

Instead, a disastrous eight-run eighth inning, keyed by fan Steve Bartman interfering with a potential foul-out, resulted in a decisive Game Seven.

Game One of the World Series is tomorrow night in New York or Boston.

Boston’s Red Sox staved off post-season elimination with a 9-6 triumph over the New York Yankees in Game Six of the AL Championship Series, to tie the series at 3-3

Boston blew an early 4-1 lead and were staring at a 6-4 deficit in the seventh. The win forced a decisive Game Seven and a potentially historic match-up early today.