D-backs' Reed fans 11 in Class A debut

Starting with a literal crack of the bat, Cody Reed's season kicked off in an electrifying way.

"I broke the guy's bat the first pitch of the game and that just got me excited. And next pitch, I just smoked him," Reed said. "I think the hit-by-pitch was just a little anxious, just happy to be back out there, really."

Joining the Cougars from extended spring training, the D-backs' No. 15 prospect plunked a batter, then struck out 11 over 5 1/3 innings in his full-season debut Sunday as Class A Kane County fell, 3-1, to Quad Cities at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Reed's season was delayed after he developed a blister on his left pinky during Spring Training. The D-backs decided to let the 19-year-old left-hander gradually work up his innings total in extended spring training.

Reed said he simply hoped to pitch well and give his team a chance to win in his Midwest League debut. What followed surprised even him.

The 2014 second-round pick worked around the plunking of Johnny Sewald and a single by Astros No. 4 prospect Kyle Tucker in the top of the first before striking out eight straight batters. He did not allow another hit until the sixth.

"I was expecting to go out there and have a good outing; I wasn't expecting to get that," Reed said. "Eleven strikeouts in the first 12 outs, it surprised me a little bit because the past year or so, I really have been trying to just get guys out within the first three pitches. I haven't been trying to strike every guy out that I faced. So it was really a surprise to strike out that many and just have a great outing."

Reed ran into trouble in the sixth as Antonio Nunez hit a leadoff single and took second on second baseman Robelys Reyes' error. Sewald followed with a "perfectly placed bunt" single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Nunez raced home on a bunt by Astros No. 5 prospect Daz Cameron and Sewald scored on Reed's throwing error.

"I was at home plate. I could see the guy coming out of the corner of my eye, I knew I wasn't going to get him out on the throw or the tag," Reed said. "So I tried to get out of his way and catch the ball at the same time and it popped to the side. I think I picked up the ball, tried to rush a little to throw the guy out of third. I threw it at my third baseman's ankles. But it's my first day back, first game, so there's some anxiety."

That ended Reed's day as he was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on three hits without a walk. The Alabama native eclipsed the career high of 10 strikeouts he established last July 6 with Class A Short Season Hillsboro.

"Honestly, I don't know, I was just pitching. That's all you can do," he said, referring to his strikeout total. "You go out there and all you can do is pitch. I was mixing my pitches well. My catcher [Luke Lowery] and I were working well together and I was confident that I had a good defense behind me, so I just went after guys.

"My biggest takeaway is make the throw to third base next time, really, and keep mixing pitches like I did today and just pound the zone with the fastball."

Quad Cities starter Alex Winkelman (2-1) kept pace with Reed, limiting the Cougars to five hits and a walk while fanning three over five scoreless innings.