Wellington Drops A Low Scoring Affair To Columbus

Columbus pitcher Frederico Zapata threw a complete game, striking out 11, in the Explorers’ 2-1 win over Wellington at home on Wednesday. Photo by Glenn Sattell

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Columbus scratched across a run in the second inning and another in the fourth, and Explorers’ pitcher Frederico Zapata made it stand up for a 2-1 win over visiting Wellington Wednesday night.

The Explorers (10-2), ranked No. 4 in the latest Miami-Dade Power Rankings, extended their winning streak to eight games after starting the season 2-2 with an outstanding performance from Zapata and some sparkling fielding plays behind him.

Zapata went the distance, striking out 11 and walking just one in tossing the four-hitter.

“They were chasing my slider,” Zapata said. “I was spotting everything really good. My fastball, I was spotting it too, working away (from opposing hitters). We didn’t play our best but I was able to pick my team up and we got the ‘dub.’”

The senior right-hander allowed just two hits after giving up an unearned run in the second inning. Between the fourth and sixth innings he struck out six consecutive Wolverines’ batters and fittingly ended the game with a strikeout as Wellington stranded the potential tying run on third base.

“I was just trying to keep my team in the game, throw strikes, I know my defense has my back,” Zapata said.

Columbus third baseman Julian Gonzalez punctuated that point with three straight stellar plays to record all the putouts in the third inning to help Zapata settled in on the mound.

“When you have a pitcher like (Zapata) that throws a lot of junk, they’re going to roll over and that’s where I am, third base, got to make the plays,” said Gonzalez, who also delivered at the plate as well. Down 1-0 in the second inning, Gonzalez tied it up, scoring on a wild pitch after delivering a double before stealing third.

“I tried to sit on a fastball,” Gonzalez said. “He was throwing a lot of fastballs. I got an up-and-in fastball, took it to the right-center gap for a double.”

It was one of Columbus’ five hits.

Columbus third baseman Julian Gonzalez doubled, scored a run, and played solid defense in the Explorers’ 2-1 win at home on Wednesday over Wellington. Photo by Glenn Sattell

The key knock came in the fourth inning when Nickolas Mora bounced an RBI single to give the Explorers the lead. Gabriel Cruz, a pinch runner for Lester Martinez, who walked, scored the go-ahead run and the Explorers held on for the win.

“We weren’t happy with the way we played tonight and we’ll work on getting better,” said Columbus manager Joe Weber. “But I’ve never seen an ugly win and we’ll take it.”

In all, 11 of Columbus’ 18 outs were hit in the air, either pop outs or fly outs.

“We’ve got to hit the ball better and we’ve just got to be better all around,” Weber said. “But we’ll be fine.”

That’s pretty much the sentiments of Wellington manager Scott Riddle and his relatively inexperienced squad.

“We’re getting better,” Riddle said of the 3-6 Wolverines, who were trying to put together their first winning streak of the season. “I know it doesn’t really show right now that we’re a good baseball team, as far as our record. But we are. We’ve played a tough schedule.

“Although we’re not winning many of those games, we’re a young team and I think we’re going to get real good here in a couple of weeks and start winning some games. So, I’m excited about our chances later.”

The Wolverines jumped on top 1-0 in the second inning when Andrew Humphrey reached on an error, stole second, and scored on a single by Gianni Rademacher.

They threatened in the seventh after Zach Hessler lined a double to open the inning. Pinch-runner Arnaldo Carrion made it as far as third base but was stranded there at game’s end.

“It’s always nice to be in the game until the last pitch,” Riddle said. “Our goal tonight was to throw strikes and try to make some defensive plays and hang on and maybe have a chance to win it in the end. We had a shot there late, didn’t get it done, but I think our kids still did a nice job of competing.”

Wellington starting pitcher Zach Hessler threw four solid innings at Columbus on Wednesday and at the plate delivered two of the Wolverines’ four hits. Photo by Glenn Sattell

Hessler had two of Wellington’s four hits and threw four strong innings on the mound.

“Zach’s an athlete,” Riddle said. “He’s going to compete on the mound. He’s going to compete with a bat in his hand. He can do pretty much anything you ask him to.”

Hessler appeared to pull a hamstring as he made his way into second base in the final inning. Riddle said his 6-2, 225-pound senior was walking after the game and thought that perhaps the injury might not be severe.

“I think he’s going to be O.K.,” Riddle said. “He should be back pretty quick.”

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