Geneva, IL - Six days after besting the Kane County Cougars with a two-hit complete game shutout on 85 pitches, Mike O'Reilly allowed four early runs and didn't make it through three innings as the Peoria Chiefs fell 4-3 Tuesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 27-37 on the half
Geneva, IL - Six days after besting the Kane County Cougars with a two-hit complete game shutout on 85 pitches, Mike O'Reilly allowed four early runs and didn't make it through three innings as the Peoria Chiefs fell 4-3 Tuesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 27-37 on the half while the 35-27 Cougars are on the verge of clinching a first-half playoff spot.
Last Wednesday at Dozer Park O'Reilly allowed just two hits, both to Anfernee Grier, in a 6-0 win over Kane County and he earned MWL Pitcher of the Week honors for his complete-game shutout. Tuesday night the Cougars jumped on the All-Star right hander from the start as Ben DeLuzio worked a leadoff walk and Grier launched a long two-run homer into the left-field pavilion. The homer was the first of the season in 221 at-bats for Grier and marked his third hit in five at-bats against O'Reilly.
The Chiefs cut the deficit in half against Mack Lemieux in the third inning. Dylan Carlson led off with a double to left and moved to third on a ground out by Shane Billings. JR Davis grounded out to second as Carlson scored to cut the Cougars lead to 2-1.
Kane County knocked O'Reilly from the game in the bottom of the third. DeLuzio walked and stole second before Grier walked. A flyout to deep right put runners on the corners and Mark Karaviotis drove in DeLuzio with a single for a 3-1 lead. With two down, Juan Silverio singled to center to bring home Grier for a 4-1 Cougars lead. O'Reilly walked Manny Jefferson to load the bases and the Chiefs went to the bullpen. Dewin Perez came in and got a fielders' choice groundout to end the inning.
The game stayed 4-1 as neither team got a runner past first base in the fifth, sixth or seventh. The Chiefs rallied against the Cougars bullpen in the eighth as Carlson reached on a dropped third strike against Tyler Mark and Billings drew a walk. Ryan Burr took over on the mound for the Cougars and with one out he hit Stefan Trosclair to load the bases. Andy Young drove a single to right-center to score Carlson and Billings and cut the Cougars lead to 4-3. Ryan McCarvel lined out sharply to second before Brian O'Keefe walked to load the bases once again. Burr escaped the inning with the Cougars still on top by a run as Juan Yepez grounded out to first base.
The Chiefs had a chance in the ninth as Vince Jackson led off with a single. A fielders' choice retired Jackson at second with Carlson taking over at first base. Billings singled to right to put the tying run at second but Burr struck out the next two Chiefs hitters to finish the game.
O'Reilly (4-2) took the loss as he allowed four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over 2 2/3 innings. Perez did not allow a run or a hit over 3 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out one. Max Almonte threw two shutout and hitless innings as he hit a batter.
Notes…Billings singled in the ninth to extend his hit streak to nine games while McCarvel's hit streak ended at six games…Young has been on base in 27 straight games…He has four hits with the bases loaded the season, the most on the Chiefs roster…He has 36 RBI, matching the first half team-leading total for Eli Alvarez last season…Young has seven multi-RBI games, one behind Andrew Knizner for the team lead…Carlson has nine multi-hit games…The Chiefs are 8-11 in one-run games…Peoria is 0-31 when trailing after eight innings…The Chiefs are 10-30 when scoring four runs or less…O'Reilly set new career highs in runs allowed and walks issued…Before Tuesday he had walked four batters in 48 innings over the entire season…The bullpen did not allow a hit over 5 1/3 innings…The Chiefs are 2-2 against Kane County this season…The series continues Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. as the Chiefs send RH Jordan Hicks (7-1, 3.34) to the mound against Cougars RH Curtis Taylor (0-4, 3.73)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android…The broadcast is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.
