Sandoval leads Venezuelan team to victory

The 26-year-old slugger helped lead his team, the Navegantes del Magallanes, to an 11-9 win on Wednesday night in the final game of the championship series over the Cardenales.

Sandoval hit one homerun and two doubles, and had two RBIs. He was selected most valuable player for the series, and his team won its first title since 2002 in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

Sandoval said afterward while celebrating that it was an experience to remember, right up there with October's World Series win with the San Francisco Giants.

"There's nothing like being champion here in Venezuela with the Navegantes. Although it can't be compared with winning the World Series, because they're different things. But it's very special to be champion here," Sandoval told reporters.

Sandoval batted .300 with three home runs and nine RBIs in the series. Sandoval's team will go on to represent Venezuela in the upcoming Caribbean Series in Hermosillo, Mexico.