Yangervis Solarte Drives In Four as Tiburones Win LVBP Opener

Yangervis Solarte homered and drove in four runs as Tiburones de La Guaira opened the 2026-27 Venezuelan Professional Baseball League season with a 10-6 victory over defending champion Navegantes del Magallanes on Monday, October 12, at Estadio José Bernardo Pérez in Valencia.

Solarte finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, powering a lineup that erased an early two-run deficit with a five-run third inning. Simón Muzziotti added two hits and three RBIs, while the Tiburones bullpen held Magallanes to one run over the final seven innings.

Solarte sets the tone in the first inning

Solarte delivered the first runs of the new LVBP season when he drove a two-run homer to center field off Ricardo Sánchez in the top of the first. Alcides Escobar, who had opened his campaign with a single, scored ahead of him.

Magallanes answered immediately. Renato Núñez tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, then Damon Dues and Thairo Estrada produced run-scoring hits in the second to give the defending champions a 4-2 lead.

Five-run rally flips the opener

La Guaira took control in the third. Solarte singled home Javier Rivas, Juniel Querecuto followed with another RBI single, and Muzziotti cleared the bases with a three-run double. The five-run burst turned a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 advantage.

Magallanes pulled within one run by the fourth inning, but Tiburones created separation in the seventh. Solarte added his fourth RBI with a sacrifice fly before a Querecuto drive that left fielder Tucupita Marcano could not handle brought home two more runs.

The late cushion proved decisive. Magallanes put two runners aboard with nobody out in the eighth, but Yapson Gómez and Jhon Romero escaped without allowing a run. Eduardo Paredes then retired the side in order in the ninth.

La Guaira bullpen closes seven strong innings

Tiburones starter Ricardo Pinto allowed five runs on seven hits in two-plus innings, forcing manager Fernando Tatis Sr. to turn to his bullpen early in his first game in charge. Eight La Guaira relievers combined to cover the final seven innings, allowing only one run and three hits.

Alberto Mota earned the win with a scoreless inning. Sánchez took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks in 2⅓ innings.

The game drew 10,946 spectators and lasted three hours, 14 minutes. The victory gave La Guaira the first win of the LVBP season and an immediate statement against the reigning champions.