O'Reilly Perfect Through Six Innings in Chiefs Win
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Mike O'Reilly retired the first 18 batters that he faced Monday in a perfect game bid at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium during the Peoria Chiefs' 3-0 one-hit shutout against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. O'Reilly posted a career-high 12 strikeouts and faced two batters
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA -
O'Reilly, who came within two outs of throwing a no-hitter May 20 versus the Beloit Snappers, carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against Cedar Rapids (10-9, 49-40). He struck out 11 of the first 18 Kernels that came to the plate and induced four popouts, two groundouts, and one fly out through the sixth.
The Chiefs tallied two runs within the ninth to stretch their advantage to 3-0.
Former Burlington Bees left-hander Abelino Pena remains the only Midwest League pitcher to throw a perfect game in Cedar Rapids. Pena's perfecto came in a 2-0 seven-inning shutout July 20, 1975 in game two of a doubleheader at the old Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Kernels are idle Tuesday before starting a six-game road trip Wednesday at the Western Michigan Whitecaps. First pitch for Wednesday's opener is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT) with Kernels left-hander
Cedar Rapids' next homestand starts Wednesday, July 19 and continues through Monday, July 24. Fans can purchase tickets for all Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.