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Yepez, Cardenales take crucial Game 5

Braves farmhand smacks walk-off single in bottom of the 11th for Lara

Venezuelan Winter League

Lara 3, Magallanes 2, 11 innings

One swing of the bat moved the Cardenales one win away from a title.

Braves farmhand Jose Yepez smacked a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning as Lara defeated Magallanes, 3-2, in Game 5 of the Venezuelan Winter League Championship Series.

Yepez finished with two hits, raising his playoff average to .217.

Fellow Braves Minor Leaguer Ernesto Mejia was 2-for-5 and drove in the game's first run. C.J. Retherford also collected an RBI for the Cardenales.Cubs infielder Luis Valbuena scored the winning run, reaching on second baseman Mario Lisson's error.

Victor Moreno tossed two hitless innings of relief to earn the win. Former Major Leaguer Ken Ray allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, but did not figure into the decision for Lara.

World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval drove in his 20th run of the playoffs for the Navegantes.

Marlins hurler Carlos Zambrano surrendered two runs on eight hits and fanned five over six innings for Magallanes. Box score