Águilas defeated Magallanes in extra innings with back-to-back home runs by Jackson Chourio and José Pirela

José Ángel Rodríguez S. l LVBP Press

January 2, 2026

Valencia.- Águilas del Zulia, the team with the fewest home runs in the elimination round, relied on a back-to-back performance from major leaguers Jackson Chourio and José Pirela to overcome in 10 innings4-3Navegantes del Magallanes, at the start of the Round Robin.

Superstar Chourio, in hisfirst postseason game in the LVBPHe went 5-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and one RBI, the result of the first of the consecutive solo home runs that the western team hit against Junior Guerra, in the tenth inning, after two outs.

“This is a dream come true for me,” the outfielder told LVBP.com after the game, having finished signing some baseballs for the Águilas fans who gathered at José Bernardo Pérez Stadium in Valencia. “I consider myself a lucky person because everywhere I go, I’m received with the greatest affection. What better way to repay them than by hitting the ball?”

The 21-year-old from Maracaibo became the youngest player in Major League history in 2025 with multiple seasons of at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He demonstrated his superiority by launching a home run on the first pitch of his at-bat against Guerra, with two outs, to break the 2-2 tie.

“I just wanted to make good contact,” Jackson Chourio said. “Luckily, it was a home run.”

After the home run by the Milwaukee Brewers star, came the historic José Pirela, who on a 1-2 count launched the ball to left field, bringing his career playoff home runs total to eight with the Eagles, tying Carlos “Cañón” Quintana for second place in the franchise and also scoring the winning run.

[ Brother Jaison was 0-5. Jaison batter 2nd in the lineup while Jackson batted 3rd ]

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