Exactly a year ago, Tyler O'Neill was hitting .223 and had struck out 51 more times than he'd walked for Class A Advanced Bakersfield. He's come a long way since then.

On Tuesday, the Mariners' fourth-ranked prospect collected a season-high four hits and plated two runs -- his eighth straight game with at least one RBI -- as Double-A Jackson defeated Tennessee, 10-5, at Smokies Park.

The RBI streak began on May 23 against Chattanooga, and the 20-year-old outfielder has driven in 13 runs since then to raise his Southern League-leading total to 40.

"First of all, the runners have got to get on base," O'Neill said. "We've got Guillermo [Heredia] and Benji [Gonzalez] hitting in front of me and they're doing their job getting on for me, so kudos to them. I just feel a little more competitive at the plate when I've got a couple runners on because I really want to drive them in."

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Heredia and Gonzalez were at it again Tuesday as the pair combined for five hits and a walk at the top of the Generals lineup, affording O'Neill plenty of RBI opportunities. The British Columbia native plated Heredia with a single up the middle in the sixth to extend the streak before doubling home Gonzalez in the eighth.

"It's always fun. It puts a little more pressure on the pitcher when they've got runners on base," O'Neill said. "Benji can steal a bag, Heredia can once in a while, too. I'm really just trying to do my job, which is get them in, and let them do their thing. It's a good team effort so far."

O'Neill has produced at a prolific rate since joining Jackson at the start of the year. Through Tuesday, he leads the circuit in RBIs, hits (62) and total bases (108) in a reversal of his April and May struggles a season ago in the California League.

"I think I've really matured as a hitter," he said. "Last year, I felt I was trying to do too much too often. This year, I'm really just taking what they give me; whether that be a walk or a hit the other way, it doesn't matter to me. I'm just trying to contribute at the plate the best I can and go from there."

O'Neill's more patient approach has paid dividends across the board, from a career-best 9.3 percent walk rate to a .328/.390/.571 slash line through 49 games.

"I think it's paying off so far, being a little more selective and waiting for a pitch that I can more so drive than just make contact with," the 2013 third-round pick said. "I'm going to keep sticking to that approach and just doing my thing from here on out."

Gonzalez finished 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Heredia homered, singled, drove in two runs and scored three.

Mariners No. 10 prospect Andrew Moore (1-0) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with five strikeouts over seven innings. He did not walk a batter in his second Double-A start.

Smokies counterpart Stephen Parakslis (0-2) surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk while fanning one in three frames.

Sixth-ranked Cubs prospect Billy McKinney singled and hit his first homer of the season for Tennessee.