Baseball fans at Doran Park witnessed a very rare Cape League feat Saturday night when the Braves took on the Orleans Cardinals.
Braves starting pitcher Nick McCully approached me prior to taking the mound. McCully told me tonight was the night he was going to do it. Of course, “it” was in reference to throwing a no-hitter.
Well, the Coastal Carolina right-hander was a little off in his prediction, but not by much. McCully was perfect in the fog-shortened five inning game. Not only did he not allow a hit, but he never allowed a Cardinal base runner in his five-strikeout performance, beating the Cardinals 1-0.
It was the first, and likely the only, perfect game of the season in the Cape League.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, which would be the final inning of the game, Braves second baseman Austin Knight (Dallas Baptist) made an outstanding diving grab on a scorching line drive up the middle. The dive and the catch kept McCully’s no-no intact.
McCully and the Braves got all the run support they needed in the bottom of the first when Braves left fielder Rafael Thomas (Oklahoma State) scored from second on a Jordan Henry (Ole Miss) single to center.
With the 1-0 win, the Braves improve to 5-7 overall and McCully to 2-0 on the season. The victory was only the second at Doran Park this season, as the Braves have gone 2-6 at home and 3-1 on the road.
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3 months ago
Thanks for reporting this! That's pretty sweet!
3 months ago
you da man with the inside scoop. nice job Nick.
how many other perfect zeros in the CCL ? that would be good to know / report.
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