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The 26-year-old left-hander allowed one hit over six innings, combining with two relievers on a two-hitter, as the Chiefs blanked the Rochester Red Wings, 2-0, on a frigid day at Frontier Field.

With temperatures dipping into the 30s, Murphy (1-1) braved the elements and limited the Red Wings to a first-inning single and four walks with four strikeouts, retiring the final 10 batters he faced.

"It was real cold out there. My hands were frozen," admitted Murphy, who lowered his ERA to 1.54. "You just have to focus on what you're trying to do and make your pitches. It's my first time in the International League. Those guys in the Pacific Coast League are lucky to have the warm weather."

Mike Gosling followed with a perfect seventh and worked around a two-out walk in the eighth before handing the ball to Shawn Camp, who gave up a leadoff single before recording his second save.

Murphy was picked up by Toronto from the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 14 after going 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA and one save in seven appearances this spring. He made his Major League debut with the D-Backs last Sept. 3 and posted a 5.68 ERA in 10 relief appearances.

"It was good to get picked up right away," he said. "I'm glad to have the chance to start again. Hopefully, it'll give me more of an opportunity."

Hector Luna singled and scored on a base hit by Sergio Santos in the fourth and Robinzon Diaz delivered a run-scoring single in the eighth for Syracuse (4-6).

Red Wings starter Kevin Mulvey (1-1), who came to the Twins in the deal that sent two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to the New York Mets, yielded a run on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings. The 22-year-old right-hander out of Villanova has allowed only one run in 10 2/3 innings this season, striking out 11.

Brian Buscher had both hits for Rochester (3-6), raising his batting average to .355.

Steve Conley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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