By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY  DENVER  The Boston Red Sox, once known for heartbreak and despair, suddenly have become the new Evil Empire of the baseball world.  The Red Sox completed an efficient four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Sunday night at Coors Field, winning their second World Series in four seasons.  Joining the New York Yankees as the only American League teams to pull off World Series sweeps in successive appearances, Boston methodically dismantled the Rockies. The Sox outscored them 29-10, scoring the third-most runs in a four-game series.  The "Evil Empire" was a nickname Red Sox President Larry Lucchino bestowed upon the Yankees in 2002 after losing out on free agent pitcher Jose Contreras. Now Boston is the only club in this millennium with two Series titles.  "They were unbelievable, from the first pitch to the last pitch," Rockies reliever LaTroy Hawkins said. "They played long ball. Small ball. They did it all. We were the best team in the National League, but they were the best in the world."  The Red Sox, down three games to one against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series, reeled off seven wins in a row..  "It doesn't get old," Boston manager Terry Francona told the Associated Press.  Closer Jonathan Papelbon capped the magical run by striking out Seth Smith and tossing his glove high into the air while the Red Sox dugout emptied onto the field.  Boston batted .333 against Rockies pitching, with six regulars batting at least .300. It was the second-highest batting average in World Series history. The Sox didn't even need cleanup hitter Manny Ramirez, who went hitless in the two games at Coors Field.  Instead, third baseman Mike Lowell was the hero, with a double and a seventh-inning homer, winning the MVP award. He finished the Series going 6-for-15 with four RBI and a club-leading six runs scored.  "I'm on cloud nine. It's unbelievable," said Lowell, who joined the Red Sox in a trade with the Florida Marlins before the 2006 season.  "In (2004), nobody expected us to do anything. But it's different when from the outset a lot of people are expecting you to win a world championship, and if you don't, it's a disappointing year."  Starter Jon Lester, diagnosed with cancer a year ago, was the latest to shut down the Rockies, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings.  Colorado made it interesting with Garrett Atkins' two-run homer in the eighth, and Jamey Carroll came within 4 feet of a homer in the ninth, but Papelbon retired all five batters he faced for his third save.  The Rockies, who had won 21 of 22 games entering the Series, hit .218 after their eight-day layoff.  "I hate to make excuses," said Rockies rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who struck out three times Sunday and hit .231 in the Series. "They just played better than us. We got behind and never recovered."  Notes: Francona is 8-0 as a manager in the Series. ... The Red Sox finished with 18 doubles, one off the Series record by the 1946 Cardinals and 1910 Philadelphia Athletics. ... The sweep meant no split decision for Denver sports fans. They can give their full attention to the Broncos, home Monday night against Brett Favre and Green Bay.  Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.
Gone are those pleading, pathetic days when the Red Sox were practically begging to win a World Series. There's a new monster in baseball, and it's in Boston.