May 17, 2015
PHILADELPHIA — Sean O'Sullivan won a big league game for the first time in more than four years, staying in after he was hit on the throat by a throw from his own catcher, and the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0 Sunday for their first five-game winning streak since last summer.
O'Sullivan (1-2) allowed five hits in six innings, struck out four and walked two. He turned to talk to his fielders in the sixth with two on and a full count, then as he pivoted to face the plate was struck on the throat with a throw by Cameron Rupp. Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg came to the mound and, after a brief delay and one warmup toss, O'Sullivan retired Aaron Hill on a flyout with his next and final pitch of the day.
A 27-year-old right-hander, O'Sullivan had been 0-9 with a 7.19 ERA in 13 starts and five relief appearances since winning at Yankee Stadium for Kansas City on May 12, 2011. His was the longest winless streak in the majors since Pittsbugh's Radhames Liz defeated the Chicago Cubs on April 23 for his first win since Sept. 14, 2008, according to STATS.
Maikel Franco homered, tripled and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who had not won five in a row since July 7-11. Darin Ruf homered and Ben Revere had three hits and an RBI.
Josh Collmenter (3-5) gave up four runs on six hits in six innings.
Hill doubled and singled and Yasmany Tomas had two hits for the Diamondbacks, who lost their fourth straight and seventh in nine games while falling to a season-worst six games under .500. Arizona has been shut out four times this season.
In a 2-for-18 skid, Rupp hit a sacrifice fly in the second and homered in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Franco drove in a run in the sixth with his first big league triple, then scored on Cesar Hernandez's single.
Franco homered off Randall Delgado leading off the eighth: The third baseman, who is 3 for 12 with two RBIs since being called up Friday, made a diving catch on Jordan Pacheco's liner for the second out in the ninth with two on.
Diamondbacks: Hill returned to the lineup after not starting Friday or Saturday due to illness.
Phillies: Sandberg didn't start left-handed hitters Ryan Howard and Chase Utley against the right-handed Collmenter. Carlos Ruiz, the third position player remaining from Philadelphia's 2008 World Series team, also had the day off. Howard pinch hit in the seventh and singled.
Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa (4-2) takes the mound for Arizona against Miami RHP Dan Haren (4-2) on Monday. It is the first career start against the Marlins.
Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels (3-3, 3.53) looks to win his third straight start when the Phillies travel to Colorado to face RHP Jordan Lyles (2-3, 4.30). Hamels has a 1.29 ERA in his last two games, and he is 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA in eight starts versus the Rockies.
