"High above Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, on a night when rain threatened to spoil the biggest night in Texas Rangers history, a breeze from the south blew steadily.

The flags atop the home-run porch in right field were waving proudly late Friday, including the rookie of the bunch.

It reads: 2010 American League Champions.

The Rangers will play in the World Series for the first time in franchise history after closing out the AL Championship Series in Game 6 on Friday night with a 6-1 victory over the mighty New York Yankees.

Colby Lewis allowed only a run on three hits in eight innings, and Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz came up big with two outs in a four-run fifth to help the Rangers clinch the best-of-seven series 4-2.

A sellout crowd of 51,404 was thrown into a state of delirium as soon as the last out was made, and the Rangers swarmed the field in a heap of white jerseys as they celebrated.

A trip to San Francisco or Philadelphia awaits the Rangers. The World Series begins Wednesday at the home ballpark of the National League champs.

"I'm just so proud of, No. 1, my team," manager Ron Washington said. "I'm so proud of my players. I'm so proud of my coaching staff. I'm so proud of the organization. There's a lot of people to be thankful for tonight."