Giants oust reigning champs to reach World Series

Rising from the brink of elimination, the San Francisco Giants reached the World Series by beating St. Louis 9-0, 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. 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. Winning pitcher 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. 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.