MVP Dye played key role from start to finish

HOUSTON – Jermaine Dye drove in the first run of the World Series for the Chicago White Sox, and the last.

From start to finish, he certainly was the most valuable player.

Dye’s two-out RBI single off Brad Lidge in the eighth inning snapped a scoreless tie and sent Chicago to its first championship since 1917 with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

“It feels unbelievable. This is an exciting moment,” Dye said. “It’s something I never will forget.”

The scrappy White Sox polished off a four-game sweep thanks in no small part to their big right fielder, who went 7 for 16 (.438) with a home run and three RBIs to earn MVP honors. He scored three times and walked twice.

“It’s been a long time since they’ve been in the World Series and won,” Dye said. “It means a lot not only to us in the clubhouse but to the organization, the fans, the city. It’s a great feeling. We’re just happy to be able to bring a championship to the city of Chicago. It’s really special.”

For Dye, it was a much better performance than his first trip to the World Series. As a rookie with the Atlanta Braves in 1996, he was 2 for 17 (.118) with one RBI in a loss to the New York Yankees.