Nova Knocked Around Again; Pirates Swept 7-0

Well, Ivan Nova's rest didn't do much rejuvenating as he couldn't deal with the Cards in general and Yadier Molina in particular. Molina's two-out single the opposite way chased home the Redbirds first run in the opening frame and his three-run homer in the third, also with two away, made it 4-0. Ivan didn't help; he walked the leadoff hitter in both frames and watched him score. No walk to hurt in the fourth; Randal Grichuk's homer was a solo shot. The Pirates continue to do nothing against Michael Wacha and Ivan even tossed a quiet frame. An error, double and sac fly gave St Louis another tally in the sixth, this one off Wade LeBlanc.  They kept adding off Angel Sanchez in the seventh with two singles and another sac fly. Dovydas Neverauskas threw a zippo eighth as did Wacha. He left after that and John Gant finished the chore in the ninth as there was no save opp for Juan Nicasio to rub NH's nose in.

Ivan's still searching (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Walks and homers keep haunting Ivan; he said post game that he's strong but location has been killing him. Dunno about the strong part, but amen to the location. The offense is and will be spotty; it needs Cutch, J-Bell and Fraze to generate some production around the two or three pups and the usual suspects that should be in the September lineup. As for the pitching, well good luck with seven starters and a dozen relievers. We just hope someone young (not just Huddy or George Kontos) gets to see the eighth inning with the lead, as advertised when Juan was jettisoned.

Notes:

• Cutch and Freeser had two hits each; the Pirates had six as a team.
• The Pirates had two runners reach second; none made it to third.
• The Bucs have lost five in a row.
• C Jacob Stallings was the only position player who was called up as Elias Diaz, Jose Osuna, Max Moroff, Jordan Luplow & Chris Bostick are already rostered (Austin Meadows isn't on the 40-man yet). We'd expect to see more of Steven Brault and Tyler Glasnow and less of Ivan and Jameson Taillon in the next three weeks and good luck with the bullpen - it's now 12 members strong. The September roster has 35 players on it.
• If you're keeping count, four members of the 40-man didn't get a call (Clay Holmes, Drew Hutchison, Nick Kingham, Gift Ngoepe). Cervy (10-day) and J-Hay (60-day) are on the DL and Jung Ho Kang is on the reserved list.