The Giants took the lead with an eighth-inning homer from Juan Uribe and survived a nervous ninth, in which closer Brian Wilson walked two batters before striking out slugger Ryan Howard to end it.

The victory settled the best-of-seven series 4-2 in the Giants’ favor and set up an improbable World Series against the American League champion Texas Rangers starting in San Francisco on Wednesday.

“That was epic. What a battle,” Wilson told reporters. “I hope the fans back home are going absolutely ballistic.”

Outfielder Cody Ross, a late season acquisition from the Florida Marlins, was named MVP of the series after hitting three homers and driving in five runs.

The Giants ended the two-year run of the Phillies as National League champions, while the Rangers knocked out last year’s World Series champion New York Yankees in taking the AL Championship.

For San Francisco, it will be their first trip to the Fall Classic since 2002 and they will be seeking their first World Series title since 1954 as the New York Giants.

The Rangers are making their Fall Classic debut in their 50th year as a franchise, born in 1961 as the Washington Senators.
 

The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their do-or-die game on an RBI-double by Chase Utley and a sacrifice fly to left from Jayson Werth off San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez.

San Francisco countered with two runs in the top of the third inning off Phillies starter Roy Oswalt.

The first run scored on a single to center by Aubrey Huff with the second tally crossing the plate on a throwing error by second baseman Placido Polanco.

Tensions ran high in the bottom of the third when Sanchez hit Utley in the back with a pitch after issuing a lead-off walk to Polanco.

Utley and Sanchez exchanged words and looked headed for a confrontation. Players from both benches came on to the field before order was restored.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy removed the agitated Sanchez and used five pitchers, including starters Madison Bumgarner and ace Tim Lincecum, for seven innings of shutout relief that made Uribe’s opposite field shot a game-winner.