Giants oust reigning champs to reach World Series

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) –

Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in game seven of the National League Championship series. The Giants captured the series 4-3 after having trailed the Cardinals 3-1. For the second playoff series in a row, San Francisco advanced by winning the last three games.

Returning from the brink of elimination, the San Francisco Giants reached the World Series by beating St. Louis 9-0 on Monday, ousting the reigning champions from the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Giants captured the best-of-seven National League Championship Series 4-3 after having trailed the Cardinals 3-1. For the second playoff series in a row, San Francisco advanced by winning the last three games.

San Francisco will face the Detroit Tigers, who swept the New York Yankees in the American League final, when the best-of-seven World Series championship series starts Wednesday in the Giants’ ballpark.

They became the seventh team to win a best-of-seven League Championship Series after trailing 3-1, and also joined the 1985 Kansas City Royals as the only teams to win six elimination games during one post-season.

“We played with more heart and more determination than any club I’ve seen,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said as the team was presented with the National League trophy. “They didn’t want to go home.”

Javier Lopez of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game seven of the National League Championship Series. Giants reached the World Series by beating St. Louis 9-0.

The Giants seek their second World Series crown in three seasons while the Tigers, who lost to St. Louis in 2006 in their most recent World Series, have not won the championship since 1984.

Matt Cain pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Giants, striking out four Cardinals while surrendering five hits and a walk, and aided his own cause by knocking in a run in the second inning.

San Francisco opened the scoring in the first when Angel Pagan singled, took third base on a Marco Scutaro single and crossed home plate on Pablo Sandoval’s ground out to the pitcher.

The Giants took a 2-0 lead when Gregor Blanco singled, advanced on Brandon Crawford’s ground out to first base and scored on a Cain single up the middle.

San Francisco pounded in five runs in the third inning to seize command.

Hunter Pence blasted a bases-loaded double to centerfield to drive in two runs and a fielding error on the play by Jon Jay allowed a third run to score.

Pence advanced to third on Brandon Belt’s single and scored when Crawford hit into a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. Belt scored from third when Pagan hit into a fielder’s choice and the Giants took a 7-0 edge.

Pitcher Sergio Romo of the San Francisco Giants reacts after the Giants defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 in game seven of the National League Championship Series. San Francisco advanced to the World Series by winning the last three games.

Blanco scored from third base in the seventh inning when Aubrey Huff grounded into a double play and Belt blasted a solo home run in the eighth for the Giants’ final runs.

St. Louis threatened in the eighth with runners at second and third and one out, but David Freese grounded out to the pitcher and Giants relief pitcher Javier Lopez struck out pinch-hitter Tony Cruz to end the inning.

The Cardinals put runners on second and third again in the ninth inning with two outs but Matt Holliday flew out to second baseman Scutaro to end the game in heavy rain.

The Cardinals had won seven straight playoff games when facing elimination, including a game seven victory over the Texas Rangers to win their 11th World Series title last year and a game five thriller over the Washington Nationals earlier this month after they trailed by six runs.

On Monday, however, they couldn’t climb out of the hole.

“It wasn’t how we scripted to finish, but it was certainly a great run,” said first-year Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, whose club was outscored 20-1 in the final three games. “They got hot, and we didn’t.”