David Malamut: This Is More Like It; Greg Billo, Cougars Beat Peoria 4-0 on Friday Night

The Cougars would get their second shutout of the season with their 4-0 win over the Peoria Chiefs in the first game of their series. This is also the first time this season that Peoria has been shutout.

The story of the night, though, was the great pitching by Cougar starter Greg Billo. Billo had a no hitter going into the sixth inning with one out before Rubi Silva singled up the middle.

In all he would go eight innings, giving up four hits. Billo walked one, hit one and struck out four. The first batter to reach was Pierre LePage to leadoff the fourth with a hit batter.

In the fifth, Micah Gibbs led off with a walk. One out later, Arismendy Alcantara reached on a Murray Watts error. That would get Gibbs to third. Billo would then be able to get a pop out and a strike out to get out of trouble. In the first four innings Billo would get eight ground ball outs and only two fly ball outs.

The first hit of the game for Peoria came in the sixth inning with one out by Silva. Billo would then get out of the inning with a double play. The next time the Chiefs would have a chance to score came in the eighth inning. With one out, Anthony Giansanti doubled off the left field wall. One out later, Silva singled to center. Alex Llanos threw home and got Giansanti to end the inning and preserve the shutou

The offense would get four runs on 10 hits. They would have chances throughout the game to score, leaving eight men on base. They also hit into two inning ending double plays in the first two innings. The first run of the game came in the third inning with one out, Julio Aparicio doubled down the left field line. One out later, Llanos singled to right to score Aparicio.

Aparicio would have a great night, he got three hits all to left field. He would score a run and drive in a run. In the fifth inning the Cougars would get two runs. Geulin Beltre led it off with his first homer of the year. Watts followed with a single to center. Aparicio then singled to left. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. One out later, Llanos hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Watts, Aparicio would tag and get to third. Yowill Espinal walked, to put runners on the corners. Ryan Stovall then popped up to end the innin

The final run of the game came in the eighth inning. With two outs, Beltre singled to right, then stole second. Watts walked, and Aparicio then singled to left to bring home Beltre.

Next Game: 5/14 vs Peoria, 5 pm Cameron Greathouse (2-2, 3.48) vs Leonel Santiago (2-4, 3.46)