Detroit Tigers advanced to baseball's World Series after sweeping New York Yankees

Miguel Cabrera: Smashed two-run homer for Detroit

Detroit Tigers advanced to the World Series for the second time in seven years by beating the New York Yankees 8-1 for a four-game sweep.

Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta hit two-run homers in a four-run fourth inning against CC Sabathia, who was unable to prevent the Yankees from getting whitewashed in a post-season series for the first time in 32 years.

Max Scherzer took a no-hit bid into the sixth against a New York starting lineup that was again without Alex Rodriguez, who flied out with two on in the sixth as a pinch hitter.

Austin Jackson added a solo shot in the seventh for Detroit, and Peralta hit another homer an inning later.

Detroit won their 11th American League pennant and first since 2006, the Tigers have five days off before the World Series starts at defending champions St Louis or 2010 winner San Francisco.

After scoring in just three of 39 innings during the series, Yankees hit just .188 in the postseason and .157 in the League Championship Series while the impressive Tigers outhit New York 16-2 in the finale and 46-22 in the series.

Meanwhile, in St Louis, defending MLB champions Cardinals moved within one win of returning to the title decider with an 8-3 romp over San Francisco Giants.

Victory gave the Cards a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series with starter Adam Wainwright, bouncing back from a sub-par outing, by returning to form in claiming the win.