Chiefs' O'Reilly twirls eight two-hit innings
Throughout a season that began in the Gulf Coast League and has produced two near-milestones, an astonishingly low walk total for Class A Peoria's Mike O'Reilly might be the most impressive note on his ledger, even as he turned in another gem Friday night."I think that's a big part of my
Throughout a season that began in the Gulf Coast League and has produced two near-milestones, an astonishingly low walk total for Class A Peoria's
"I think that's a big part of my game," he said. "Just try to attack hitters, you don't want to let them on for free -- make them earn it. Just try to attack them early in counts and just get ahead and then stay ahead and finish them off."
The Cardinals prospect allowed two hits -- and no walks -- and struck out nine over eight innings on Friday night as the Chiefs blanked Kane County, 1-0, at Northwestern Medicine Field.
Gameday box score
Over 64 2/3 innings in nine starts, O'Reilly (6-2) has a 1.95 ERA with 58 strikeouts and nine walks while holding opponents to a Midwest League-low .172 average. After being elevated to Peoria on April 20, the 27th-round pick in last year's Draft made three appearances out of the bullpen before getting his first start on May 9.
Twice, he's pitched into the late innings as a starter, falling two outs shy of a no-hitter against Beloit while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts on May 20 and tossing a two-hit shutout against Kane County on June 7, with D-backs No. 9 prospect
Grier also tagged O'Reilly for his only homer of the season in their next matchup on June 17, a 4-3 Cougars win, but went 0-for-3 against the right-hander Friday.
"We [me and catcher
O'Reilly retired the first 12 batters he faced, striking out four, before surrendering a leadoff double to
"That's when you really try to focus and not let them hit it, just try and get a strikeout," O'Reilly said.
"I just went to my off-speed stuff there," O'Reilly said. "I was fortunate enough to get a couple strikeouts in big spots."
The Long Island native worked around a one-out bunt single by
"I think we were all a little surprised when he took off for home," O'Reilly joked. "He's a little faster than we thought, I guess."
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O'Reilly plunked Karaviotis to start the home half of the frame but got the next three outs on seven pitches, including a strikeout of Silverio. He began the eighth by fanning Christy and
"I was happy with my night and I understand the situation that we got to watch our pitch counts," O'Reilly said. "I had a good night's work and I trust the bullpen enough to turn it over to them."
The Chiefs gave way to
Atkinson (2-3) surrendered a run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts over seven frames for the Cougars.
Gerard Gilberto is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @GerardGilberto4.