University of Memphis Athletics
Ryan O'Malley Dominates Houston Astros in Big League Debut
Aug 16, 2006 | Baseball
Aug. 16, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - Former Tiger Ryan O'Malley threw 8.0 innings of shut out ball in his major league debut to help the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 victory and a series sweep of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park this afternoon. Michael Barrett drove in the game's only run with a solo shot in the sixth inning and Bob Howry picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning. Andy Pettite took the loss.
O'Malley, who struck out a pair and allowed just five hits in his first MLB outing, was selected from Triple-A Iowa today after lefty reliever Scott Eyre was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
O'Malley, a 6-1 lefty from Springfield, Ill. joined the Tigers from Lincoln Land Junior College for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In two years at Memphis, O'Malley went 9-8 with a 4.68 ERA (71 ER/136.2 IP) in 30 games (26 starts) and recorded 52 strikeouts and 41 walks. O'Malley also hit .209 with 8 HR and 32 RBI in his two seasons with the Tigers.
After signing with the Cubs in 2002 as an undrafted free agent, O'Malley compiled a 28-23 record and a 3.84 ERA (193 ER/451.2 IP) in 167 minor league games (46 starts). He began this season in the bullpen of Triple-A Iowa where he was 0-1 with an ERA of 8.00 (8 ER/9 IP). He hit his stride when he was moved to the starting rotation in May where he went 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA (48 ER/114.2 IP) in 19 starts.
