No-hitter another highlight for Bees pitcher

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What's next in the pitching education of Sean O'Sullivan?

First, there was a successful Major League Baseball debut and the strong chance that O'Sullivan will once again pitch this season for the playoff-bound Los Angeles Angels.

Then, there was Wednesday, as the Salt Lake right-hander opened a PCL road trip at Sacramento in historical fashion, pitching the first nine-inning no-hitter in Salt Lake Bees history, winning 2-0.

Not bad for a season that began in Double-A.

"I would have bet my bank account I would not be in the big leagues this year," O'Sullivan said. "It's been a series of events that gave me opportunities. I want to show I'm not afraid, whatever the level. I'll give you everything I've got."

Excluding a rough month of May when O'Sullivan's earned-run average topped out at 8.13, O'Sullivan has pitched as expected for a third-round draft choice. He has won six of nine decisions with Salt Lake and is 3-0 in spot-starting duties with the Angels.

O'Sullivan even managed a hit in his first big-league at bat, an infield single.

"That might have been the coolest thing I've ever done," he said.

As rough as May was for O'Sullivan, early in the month he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. So, O'Sullivan was pitching in familiar territory Wednesday.

Remembering he lost a no-hitter challenging a batter deep in the count, O'Sullivan was determined, in the same situation, not to give up a cheap hit.

"It was above and beyond," O'Sullivan said about his gem. Only one Sacramento batter, Cliff Pennington walked in the seventh, reached base. "I'd never been part of one, never seen one."

Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco said afterward that; "Everything was working for him. We hit two balls hard the entire night. You've got to give the guy credit."

Still, O'Sullivan came perilously close to watching someone else complete his no-no. With many in the Sacramento crowd now pulling for him, O'Sullivan had already thrown 121 pitches and manager Bobby Mitchell was faced with possibly pulling his starter.

One way or the other, with two out in the bottom of the ninth at Raley Field, the stocky young right-hander was throwing to his last hitter.

"If he would have walked the guy, I would have had to take him out," Mitchell said. "I was hoping the last batter would make an out."

Cliff Pennington saved Mitchell, who can laugh about it now, from what could have been an uncomfortable moment by grounding out to a sliding Bees' second baseman Sean Rodriguez.

"It was kind of a surreal moment," O'Sullivan said. "It was like slow motion in front of me. 'Sean, get it out of your glove. Get it to first base.' It seemed like it was taking forever."

O'Sullivan's no-hitter was mind-bending emotionally as well as physically. Prior to the first pitch, he dedicated the game to his grandmother, who had died a few days earlier.

"I picked a good day to do it," the 21-year-old San Diego native, who left the Bees briefly to attend funeral services.

Coming down the stretch, O'Sullivan stayed "pretty much with the heater. The slider was so-so and the change was all right."

At the last out, with the Sacramento crowd now squarely on his side, O'Sullivan pointed to the sky.

"It was quite fitting," Mitchell said. "It was really amazing. And we made some great plays behind him."

Outfielder Brad Coon's basket catch and an over-the-shoulder grab by Rodriguez highlighted a good night by the Bees' defense.

So far, no matter the ups and downs in 2009, O'Sullivan remains confident.

"[The Angels] called me up for a reason," he said. "I see no reason to change what got me there. I'm going to give you everything I've got. And throw strikes."

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