Bodog Beat

The Phillies are the new champs. (AP Images)

Nearly 50 hours after Game 5 started but was stopped by rain, Brad Lidge and the Philadelphia Phillies finished off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in a three-inning sprint Wednesday night to win the World Series. Pedro Feliz singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh and Lidge closed out his perfect season to deliver the title Philly craved for so long.

For bettors the outcome was already decided because sports books stuck to their guidelines, giving Philly backers the cash because their team was winning 2-1 after the fifth inning was completed on Monday.

Cole Hamels, who was 4-0 in five postseason starts, was named MVP. The Phillies finished the postseason with an 11-3 mark and as the top money team in the playoffs. It should not be that long before futures odds for 2009 are posted, and expect the Phillies and Rays to be near the top of the list.