Giants sweep Tigers to take World Series title

And two World Series titles in three years.

The Giants’ incredible demolition of the Detroit Tigers in the first three games gave ace Matt Cain a chance to accomplish something only Boston’s Derek Lowe has done: Record the win in the clinching game of all three postseason rounds.

Cain might not have collected that elusive win, but he gave the Giants a solid performance that left them in a position to win the game.

Cain pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and striking out five as the Giants completed their improbable run to the World Series title.

Entering Game 4, the Giants were 9-1 this postseason when they scored first, so it was a good omen when Hunter Pence doubled with one out in the second and Brandon Belt followed with an RBI triple into the right field corner.

Cain gave up the lead in the third inning when Miguel Cabrera hit a ball that should have been a routine fly ball to right. But strong gusts of wind pushed the ball into the first row for a two-run home run.

When it seemed like Tigers start Max Scherzer was in control, striking out Pablo Sandoval for his seventh victim of the night, Buster Posey quickly restored order to the Giants runaway freight train, launching a two-run home run that just stayed fair down the left field line.

Cain couldn’t hold the lead for very long, giving up a two-out home run to Delmon Young that tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

Cain limited the damage, pitching strongly through seven innings. He struck out his final batter, overpowering Austin Jackson with a high fastball.

That was enough for the Giants’ bullpen to close out the Tigers. Jeremy Affeldt would power through the eighth, striking out Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Delmon Young.

Affeldt and Casilla would combine to close out the bottom of the ninth to turn matters over to the Giants’ bats.

Ryan Theriot — in his first hit ever as a designated hitter — would get a solid single to right to open the 10th off Phil Coke. Crawford laid a perfect bunt down the first base line, advancing Theriot to second.

A Coke strikeout to Angel Pagan brought Marco Scutaro to the plate, and the NLCS MVP delivered. A solid single to center would plate Theriot, giving the Giants their final lead of the season, 4-3.

Then, in classic shut-the-door fashion, Sergio Romo would strike out the side in the tenth as well, getting Miguel Cabrera looking on the final pitch of the game to deliver the sweep — and another World Series title — for the Giants.