WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. – Edgar Rentería blasted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 to clinch the city’s first World Series title on Nov. 1 in Arlington, Texas.

Rentería, a 35-year-old native of Barranquilla, Colombia, was named Most Valuable Player of the World Series, becoming just the fifth shortstop in major league history to win the award.

Rentería went 7-for-17 at the plate, a .412 average, with two home runs and six runs batted-in.

Rentería delivered an offering from Texas pitcher Cliff Lee over the left-center field fence to provide all of the Giants’ runs with one swing. San Francisco hadn’t won the World Series since 1954, four years before they moved to San Francisco from New York.

“I told myself to keep working hard and keep in shape because something is going to be good this year,” he told reporters after the game.

But providing a clutch hit to win a World Series title is nothing new for Rentería. His 11th-inning single capped Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, giving the Florida Marlins their first World Series title with a win over the Cleveland Indians.

Rentería joined baseball icons Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra as the only players to drive in championship-clinching runs in two World Series.

[ESPN.com (United States), 01/11/2010; The Associated Press (United States), 01/11/2010]