The Texas Rangers celebrate their 6-1 win over the New York Yankees in the deciding Game 6 of baseball's American League Championship Series in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas (Reuters) – The Texas Rangers reached the World Series for the first time in their 50 years as a franchise by beating the New York Yankees 6-1 on Friday to win the American League Championship Series.

The win gave them a 4-2 triumph in the best-of-seven series and put them into the Fall Classic against the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, who lead it 3-2.

Rookie closer Neftali Feliz struck out former Ranger Alex Rodriguez for the final out, igniting a wild celebration on the diamond and among the crowd of more than 51,000 at Rangers Ballpark.

Starting pitcher Colby Lewis won his second game of the series by throwing eight sterling innings and giving up three hits, and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero drove in the first three runs to lead the Rangers to victory.

The Rangers rejoiced in the middle of the diamond after eliminating last year's World Series winners, hugging each other and falling into a massive pileup near the mound.

After more hugs, they sprayed ginger ale in glee and poured the soda over each other's heads in deference to slugger Josh Hamilton, who has overcome drug and alcohol abuse.

Hamilton, who batted .350 with four home runs and seven runs batted in, was named Most Valuable Player of the series.

"This group is here because they don't know how to fail," said Hamilton, choked with emotion. "The chemistry of this team is like something I've never known anywhere."

Ice cold
Guerrero, who had been ice cold at the bat without a single RBI, made up for lost time Friday.

His groundball out in the first brought home the first run, but it was his two-out, two-run double to dead center that really set the Rangers on their way.

The blast off Yankees starter Phil Hughes snapped a 1-1 tie and was followed by a two-run homer by Nelson Cruz that gave Texas a 5-1 lead and broke the game open.

"I'm speechless," Lewis, a former Texas top draft pick who played the previous two seasons in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp, told a TV interviewer. "I never thought I'd be in this position.

"To get an opportunity to go to Japan, I'm very grateful for that. And for the Texas Rangers organization to bring me back, I'm very grateful."

Rangers manager Ron Washington was bursting with pride in his players.

"They show up every single day and they leave their hearts on the field," he said. "Tonight you've seen exactly what they've worked hard for since February."