O'Sullivan Shines as Pigs Top Chiefs, 4-1
RHP Sean O'Sullivan did not allow an earned run over six innings of work as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (63-78) snapped a three-game skid with a 4-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs (64-77) on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park.
O'Sullivan (5-2) gave up the one unearned run on six hits while walking three and fanning four in his 6.0 IP.
The right-hander tied a franchise record by winning his fourth straight start and became the first IronPig pitcher to accomplish the feat since David Buchanan did so from April 21-May 13, 2014.
RHP Dustin McGowan (1.0 IP, BB, K) tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 15th save of the year for the IronPigs.
The Pigs took a 1-0 lead in the second as Cord Phelps led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and later scored on Logan Moore's (2-4, RBI) RBI single. The double was Phelps' first extra base hit since July 26.
Syracuse tied it at one with a run in the fourth as Scott Sizemore reached on a force out with one away, went to second on a single and scored on Isaac Ballou's RBI single. With runners at the corners and one out in the inning, O'Sullivan was able to get Dan Butler to ground into a 5-4-3 double play and end the threat.
Tommy Joseph's (2-4, HR, RBI, R) solo shot off of Chiefs starter Scott McGregor in the bottom half of the same frame gave the IronPigs a 2-1 lead. The home run was Joseph's third of the year.
McGregor (6-6) allowed the two runs on five hits to go along with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings of work.
In the home half of the fifth, Russ Canzler hit a two-run shot off of RHP Dakota Bacus (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, K) to open up a 4-1 lead for Lehigh Valley. It was Canzler's 10th home run of the season.
Jordan Danks (2-3) and Kelly Dugan (2-3, R) also had multi-hit games for the IronPigs.
RHP Nefi Ogando (2.0 IP, 2 H, BB, K) had a scoreless outing in relief for manager Dave Brundage's squad.
The Pigs will begin their final series of the 2015 season on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. when they host the Rochester Red Wings in the first of a three-game set. LHP Anthony Vasquez (8-7, 4.14) takes the hill for Lehigh Valley against Rochester RHP Jose Berrios (5-2, 2.67).