Columbus Blanks Southwest In Pitchers’ Duel

In a battle of aces between Columbus’ Bryan Garcia and Southwest’s Chris Mourelle, the Explorers got the upper hand against their District 8A-15 rival.

Backed up by timely hitting and solid defense, Garcia was dominate on the mound with nine strikeouts as he led Columbus to a 2-0 shutout win over the Eagles.

“I thought Bryan threw a great game,” Columbus Manager Job Weber said. “I think he was going after them right away, but also the defense behind him was really great.”

After Garcia retired the side at the top of the first inning, the Explorers struck first in the bottom of the frame. With two outs in the first inning, the red-hot Ryan Alvarez lined a two-out single up the middle to keep the inning alive for Columbus. After Alvarez stole second, Mourelle walked catcher Cris Perez to put runners on first and second. Nelson Mompierre smashed a hard line drive to right field to load the bases for Eddy Rodriguez. Still with two outs, Rodriguez laced a single down the third-base line to bring home Alvarez and put Columbus up 1-0. Mourelle kept his composure and struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Southwest looked to strike back in the third inning when third baseman Alex Perera hit a single to center field for the Eagles first hit of the game. The Eagles received a gift when the catcher Perez threw the ball high down the right-field line attempting to pick Perera off at first base. Perez redeemed himself a few pitches later after he threw Perera out trying to steal third base. Garcia got the next two hitters to strikeout and fly out to end the inning.

“I was just attacking with my fastball, lots of change-ups today and hitting my slider late,” Garcia said.

Mourelle ran into trouble again in the third. With one out and no one on, Alvarez struck again, this time with a deep fly ball over a tree in right-center field for his third home run of the young season. In his first two regular-season games, Alvarez is a combined 6-for-7 with three home runs, six RBIs, four runs scored and no strikeouts.

“The ball looks bigger than what it really is,” Alvarez said.” I’m seeing a mixture of pitches, I’m seeing curve balls, fastballs, change-ups. I’m seeing everything right now. I’m just trying to pick good pitches and square them up.”

Southwest tried to respond in the top of the fourth with some offense of its own. Speedy Shortstop Luis Aviles made it to first after the third strike slipped by the catcher’s glove. The next batter, Carlos Pena, hit a dribbler to the shortstop that moved Aviles into scoring position with two outs. Luis Gutierrez hit a solid line drive to center that seemed hit well enough to bring Aviles home. However, Columbus center fielder Kevin Suarez scooped the ball on a hop and threw a laser to home plate where the umpire called Aviles out on a call that could have gone either way.

“It was a well-hit ball. I thought he got in there,” Southwest Manager Josy Torres said. “My coaching staff told me that their catcher missed the tag, but at the end of the day, its his call, and it kind of turned things around pretty much.”

Stellar defense was on display the entire game between the teams. With one out and a runner on first, Mourelle used an excellent pick-off move to throw out the runner on first base. A few pitches later, he forced a groundout to Aviles to end the inning.

On the other side, Columbus’ answered with some solid play of their own. Garcia completed the shutout by striking out five of the next 10 hitters he faced, and Alvarez sealed the game with a sliding catch at the warning track for the game’s final out.

“I was very pleased with the way the kids played tonight,” Weber said.

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