Jon Lester and Bobby Kielty became the latest in a list of heroes for the Boston Red Sox, who completed their second World Series sweep in the last four years Sunday night.

Lester pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings for the victory and Kielty knocked in the winning run, belting a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning en route to a 4-3 Game 4 triumph over the hometown Colorado Rockies.

Boston's Bobby Kielty, right, is greeted by teammates David Ortiz, left, Julio Lugo and Manny Ramirez after Kielty's eighth-inning home run.
(David Zalubowski/Associated Press)

In 2004, Boston defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to win its first title since 1918.

The Red Sox, who outscored the Rockies 29-10 in four games, are the first team to sweep consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees downed San Diego (1998) and Atlanta (1999).

"This team's got a lot of heart," Red Sox captain Jason Varitek said. "We worked really hard. We just beat a very, very good team, an excellent team. We had to do the little things."

After trailing 3-1 to Cleveland in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox won seven straight games, outscoring their opponents 59-15.

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon got the final five outs, striking out pinch hitter Seth Smith to end the game for his fourth save of this post-season and Boston's seventh Series title.

"It took all 25 of us to get the job done," Papelbon said. "It's just phenomenal."

Third baseman Mike Lowell, who doubled, homered and scored a run in Sunday's game, was named World Series most valuable player after posting a .400 batting average. He is eligible for free agency this winter.

Ace pitcher Josh Beckett dominated in Game 1, relievers Papelbon and Okajima closed out Game 2 and rookies Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Daisuke Matsuzaka starred in Game 3.

Rockies put up fight

The Rockies, who entered the World Series having won 21 of their previous 22 games, didn't go down without a fight.

With one out in the ninth inning, Jamey Carroll took Papelbon to the fence in left field in just his second at-bat of the series.

Colorado cut the Red Sox lead to 4-3 an inning earlier when Garrett Atkins drilled a two-run homer to left field off Okajima.

But the left-handed reliever ended any further damage by retiring Ryan Spilborghs and Brad Hawpe, who got the Rockies on the board with a seventh-inning homer.

Colorado struggled to mount an offensive attack against Lester, who overpowered batters on the inside of the plate and exited the game in the sixth with a 2-0 lead.

"At the end of the day, you look back on the game. How did you execute?" Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "They executed better than us all four games."

Boston wasted little time setting the tone Sunday as Game 3 hero Ellsbury led off the game with a double off Colorado starter Aaron Cook and scored on David Ortiz's one-out single.

Ortiz, the designated hitter-turned first baseman for Games 3 and 4, flashed a fancy glove in the second inning when he neatly scooped up shortstop Julio Lugo's one-hop throw.

Lowell wields hot bat

Varitek made it 2-0 in the fifth inning on a single that scored Lowell, who had doubled.

Lowell then gave the Red Sox a three-run advantage on the second pitch he saw from Rockies reliever Jeremy Affeldt, depositing a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left.

When left-fielder Manny Ramirez misplayed Kaz Matsui's fly ball into a double in the third, Lester also took care of the trouble himself.

The lefty struck out Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday, punctuating the last pitch with a fist pump. Down to their last chance, Colorado's hitters seemed to press and take huge hacks. Lester used that eagerness in his favour, often fooling them with sliders.

Cook, too, was trying to add a chapter to his success story. His career was cut short a few years ago because of blood clots in his lungs. He started on opening day this season, but hadn't pitched in a major league game since Aug. 10 because of a strained side muscle.

Cook was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs (all earned) in six innings of work.

Among the Red Sox getting new World Series rings is Eric Gagne of Mascouche, Que., who threw one inning of perfect relief in Boston's 13-1 rout of the Rockies in the series opener. Gagne is the first Canadian to get a ring since Rob Butler won one with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays in 1993.

Meanwhile, Jeff Francis of North Delta, B.C., was denied a chance to make up for his poor outing in Game 1.

Boston finished with 18 doubles, one off the Series record by the 1946 Cardinals and 1910 Philadelphia Athletics.