Phillies beat D-backs 6-0 for 5-game winning streak
PHILADELPHIA -- Sean O'Sullivan's biggest difficulty during his first win in more than four years was receiving a ball from his own catcher.
O'Sullivan won a big league game for the first time since May 12, 2011, staying in after he was hit on the throat by a throw from Cameron Rupp, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0 Sunday for their first five-game winning streak since last summer.
"I didn't see the ball for one second," O'Sullivan said. "It was like I got punched in the throat from around the corner."
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 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.
"That could've been even uglier than it was," Sandberg said. "It wasn't pretty when it happened, but there was a little bit of humor afterward."
O'Sullivan had a red mark just below his Adam's apple. He said breathing was tough for the first "five-10 seconds" after getting hit, and swallowing still was difficult after the game.
"It was scary for a minute," he said.
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 Pittsburgh's Radhames Liz defeated the Chicago Cubs on April 23 for his first win since Sept. 14, 2008, according to STATS.
O'Sullivan saw a reference on the Phillies' website after his previous start.
"I was like, Oh man, I have to get a win here," he said. "It was nice. More importantly, for the team to keep things rolling right now."
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.
"Everybody is chipping in," Sandberg said. "As a team, we're playing real good baseball."
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.
Arizona had a team meeting after the game.
"It was a frustrating series for everybody," Collmenter said.
Rupp hit a sacrifice fly in the second and Ruf 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 UPDATE
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.
"It's so great, awesome," Franco said. "I'm happy the team is playing real well right now."
BILLINGSLEY TO DL
The Phillies placed RHP Chad Billingsley (right shoulder strain) on the 15-day DL following the game. Billingsley (0-2, 6.75) has made three starts in a comeback bid after missing two seasons due to a pair of right elbow operations.
TRAINER'S ROOM
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.
UP NEXT
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.
