KANSAS CITY (AFP) - The San Francisco Giants captured baseball's World Series for the third time in five seasons with a 3-2 victory over Kansas City Royals on Thursday morning (Singapore time), sparked by pitcher Madison Bumgarner's five shutout relief innings.

They defeated the Royals four games to three in the best-of-seven final to collect their eighth Major League Baseball championship overall and follow up titles in 2010 and 2012.

Bumgarner, a 25-year-old left-hander, overpowered Royals batters to win games two and five and pitched in the decider on only two days of rest.

He allowed only two hits while striking out four over the final five innings to complete the Giants' championship run. "MadBum" tossed 50 of his 68 pitches for strikes to claim World Series Most Valuable Player honours.