The last time the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate began a season 1-0, Randy Wolf was the game's starting pitcher. That was 1999.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.
The last time the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate began a season 1-0, Randy Wolf was the game's starting pitcher. That was 1999.

Since then, Philadelphia's top farm club had lost 10 straight season-openers, including two by the Lehigh Valley IronpPigs, heading into Thursday's game at Syracuse's Alliance Bank Stadium.

The Chiefs continued both of those streaks, scoring two runs in the bottom of ninth to steal an 8-7 victory that the IronPigs thought they had stolen themselves.

Pete Orr ended the game with a one-out, bases-loaded shot over the head of centerfielder Chris Duffy to bring home the winning run. Syracuse tied the score earlier on Roger Bernadina's solo home run.

In the top of the eighth, Paul Hoover gave Lehigh Valley a 5-4 lead with a three-run triple, but Syracuse tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Rich Thompson followed with a pinch-hit, RBI single in the top of the ninth that gave the IronPigs a short-lived 8-7 lead.

The four-game series continues Friday in Syracuse.

The Morning Call