Giants Sweep Tigers, Capture Second World Series in Three Years

The San Francisco Giants completed their rather improbable postseason run in dramatic fashion on Sunday night with an extra-innings victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Game Four of the 2012 World Series, 4-3.Few experts had predicted the Giants would win capture the title, but San Francisco not only came back from a 3-1 series deficit in the National League Championship Series by winning three-straight games over the St. Louis Cardinals, but swept the Tigers, who had been much more rested after sweeping the New York Yankees."Detroit probably didn't know what it was in for," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "Our guys had a date with destiny."Pablo Sandoval, who hit three home runs in Game One, earned the Most Valuable Player award. The third baseman batted .500 in the series, but will be most remembered for joining Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols as the only players in history to hit three home runs in a World Series game.Game Four was the only game of the World Series that went to extra innings, and the only game where Detroit had a lead in the series. The Tigers scored their three runs off a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera in the third inning, and a solo shot by Delmon Young in the sixth.But like the rest of the series, the Tigers failed to take advantage of their chances, while the Giants continued their clutch play.Marco Scutaro hit the go-ahead single with two outs in the 10th inning to drive in Brandon Crawford to lift the Giants to victory. Scutaro had previously scored in the sixth when he was on base for Buster Posey's 359-foot home run to left field.Matt Cain surrendered all three runs for the Giants, while Santiago Casillas earned the win. Sergio Romo closed out the game for San Francisco. Phil Coke got the loss for the Tigers.The series was particularly disappointing for the Tigers, who had swept the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.Detroit simply failed to get enough production out of their strong lineup. Quinton Berry failed to get a hit in the series, and star slugger Prince Fielder had just one hit in 14 at-bats.In Game One, Justin Verlander gave up five earned-runs in four innings. The ace had also struggled in the 2006 World Series, when the Tigers lost to the Cardinals in five games.