Arizona complete rapid rise

Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run home run in the fifth innings to help Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves and send them into the World Series for the first time. Arizona won the best-of-seven National League Championship Series 4-1.

The Diamondbacks, playing in only their fourth season, became the fastest franchise to reach the World Series, eclipsing the five-year wait before the Florida Marlins advanced in 1997. The hard-throwing lefthanded pitcher Randy Johnson allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings, while the Korean-born side-armer Byung-Hyun Kim recorded the final six outs.

"I'm just very fortunate to inherit this ballclub," said the team manager Bob Brenly – in only his first season after giving up his job as television summariser. "It's easy for things to turn out well when no matter who you send out there does something good to help you win a ball game."

Brenly's job was made easier by his taking over a team with plenty of experience, featured arguably baseball's best pitching double act in Curt Schilling and Johnson.

"I just kind of really want to enjoy the moment," Johnson said. "We're going to the World Series. I mean, I've never been to the World Series at any level of my career, whether it was Little League or any of that."

In the World Series, which begins next weekend, the Diamondbacks will face the winners of the American League Championship Series. Alfonso Soriano's two-run home run in the ninth innings lifted the New York Yankees, who are looking for their fourth World Series title in a row, to a 3-1 victory over Seattle Mariners on Sunday night.

The Yankees hold a 3-1 lead in the Championship Series, with game four – possibly the decider of their seven-game series – due to be played later last night.