Oswalt tosses gem and Rivera homers as Mets beat IronPigs, 1-0

Allentown, PA - Syracuse starting pitcher Corey Oswalt threw seven scoreless innings as the Syracuse Mets shut out the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 1-0, on Monday night at Coca-Cola Park. Oswalt's earned run average is now 2.85 through 14 starts and 75 and 2/3 innings pitched this season with Syracuse. The 2.85 ERA for Oswalt would lead the International League if he had enough innings pitched to qualify for the league leaderboard.

Syracuse (65-61) scored the game's lone run in the top of the fourth. On an 0-2 pitch leading off the inning, René Rivera driller his career-high 25th home run of the season for a 1-0 Mets lead. Rivera has now exceeded his career high in home runs by 14. 
That was the only run allowed by Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Cole Irvin. The left-hander struck out seven batters and allowed six hits with two walks in seven innings pitched.
Lehigh Valley (60-65) was held in check all night by another brilliant pitching performance from Syracuse starter Corey Oswalt. The 25-year-old held the IronPigs to just four hits in seven scoreless innings, without allowing a walk. Oswalt has now not allowed a run in his last 12 innings pitched. Syracuse reliever Stephen Nogosek followed Oswalt with two perfect innings pitched as Nogosek struck out three batters and secured his second save of the season.
The Mets and IronPigs meet again on Tuesday night for the second game of their four-game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.