DETROIT — Second baseman Marco Scutaro hit the game-winning single in the top of the 10th inning to score Ryan Theriot, and the San Francisco Giants completed a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 4-3 victory on Sunday night to win the World Series.
Giants closer Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless bottom of the 10th inning, striking out Tigers third baseman looking Miguel Cabrera for the final out.
The likely Most Valuable Players in their respective leagues — Cabrera and San Francisco catcher Buster Posey — both homered as the teams went into extra innings tied at 3-3.
Cabrera belted a two-run home run off Matt Cain in the third inning to put the Tigers ahead 2-1 as Detroit finally took a lead for the first time in the series. It was just his second home run in 54 plate appearances in the postseason for Cabrera after he won the American League Triple Crown by leading the league with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBI.
Cabrera hit what looked like a routine popup to right field off the bat. However, the ball kept carrying on a gusty night until it landed in the first row of seats.
With the Tigers trailing 1-0 in the third, Austin Jackson drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Quintin Berry grounded out while unsuccessfully trying to bunt for a base hit. Cabrera followed with his home run.
Cabrera’s hit was just the Tigers’ second in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position in the series.
Posey put the Giants back ahead 3-2 when he hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Tigers starter Max Scherzer. Posey, who won the National League batting title with a .336 average, had been 11-for-58 (.190) in the postseason.
The Giants’ lead didn’t last long, as Delmon Young hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 3-3.
Cain lasted seven innings. He allowed three runs and five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Scherzer gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out eight.
The Tigers were without catcher Alex Avila, who was scratched from the lineup because of a bruised left forearm. He was injured in Game 3 on Saturday night when struck by a foul ball.
Gerald Laird started behind the plate.
The Tigers then lost second baseman Omar Infante in the bottom of the ninth inning when he was in the right hand by a pitch from Santiago Casilla.
GAME NOTES: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was named World Series MVP. … Tigers second baseman Omar Infante suffered a broken hand (fifth metacarpal) when he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning.