Braves blank Cardenales and set foot in LVBP Final Series

Margarita blanks Cardenales and ensures at least a tie for second place in the semifinal and a possible extra game against Águilas del Zulia
CARACAS — With solid pitching from Jesús Vargas in six innings, the Margarita Braves defeated the Lara Cardenales 1-0 on Tuesday, to be one step away from their first final in their history in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League ( LVBP).
Vargas pitched a three-hit ball and did not allow a runner past second base in six innings, so that Margarita secured at least a tie for second place in the semifinal and a possible extra game against Águilas del Zulia.
Alexi Amarista was the offensive hero, going 3-for-4 and delivering the hit that drove in the only run of the game.
Margarita scored the winning run in the third inning when Rayder Ascanio led off with a hit and advanced one more base due to an error by Ildemaro Vargas. Then, Herlis Rodríguez bunted the ball for Ascanio to reach third base safely. Immediately, Amarista gave one of his three hits of the night, to tow Ascanio.
Jimmy Endersby took the loss by pitching six innings with six hits and one earned run, walking none and striking out two.
Claudio Custodio earned his sixth save of the Round Robin by getting the last five outs of the game, allowing one hit with a walk and a strikeout.
ÁGUILAS IS STILL ALIVE BY ELIMINATING MAGALLANES
With a six-run rally in the fourth inning, the Águilas del Zulia defeated the Navegantes del Magallanes 8-2, to remain with options to advance to the Grand Final of the LVBP and leave their rivals on the road.
The victory was scored by Colombian Luis Romero (1-1), fifth of six relays, who worked a scoreless inning, with a walk. The disaster, meanwhile, fell to Junior Guerra (1-3), who received seven runs (two unearned) and eight hits in 3.1 innings.
Major leaguer Andrés Chaparro went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, one run scored and a stolen base, to lead the Eagles’ offense.