Super Nova Sharp, Bucs Bats Chip Away to Take 5-1 Win; Injury News - Gregory Done For Year

Ivan Nova gave up a two-out walk in an otherwise quiet frame. Wei-Yin Chen was banged for a two-out J-Low two-bagger between three whiffs. Looks like plate ump Jerry Layne is gonna keep the game movin' with a generous strike zone today. Despite a couple of well-struck balls, the second was a quick and calm frame for Ivan. Joey O doubled the oppo way and Pablo Reyes drew a four-pitch walk. K-Man singled home a run. Chen kept trying to walk Jacob Stallings, who wouldn't let him and eventually bounced into a 1-4-3 DP before Ivan fanned. The Fish got a two-out knock that led to nothing in the third. Pittsburgh went down in order, with Starling's rocket toward The Notch gloved. Miami bounced a two-gone rap in the fourth followed by a K. The Pirates opened with a J-Bell walk and an Osuna knock. With two outs and a full count, the runners were going when Jake singled; one run scored and the Bucs got a bonus point when the ball went through Brinson (the outfield is slippery when wet), making it 3-0 before Ivan fanned again. The Fish led of the fifth with a knock that was wild pitched up a sack, but with no damage done. Brett Graves climbed the slippy slope and gave up a double to Fraze; he got picked off second an out later and the inning fizzled out.

Ivan was on top of his game today (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

The sixth opened with a Nova bobble, allowing the lead off man to reach but no fire was lit. J-Bell stayed in the groove, hammering a 3-2 fastball into the CF stands to pad the lead. Dovy Neverauskas got the ball in the seventh - Ivan gave up three hits, with a walk and nine K's after 90 tosses - and fanned a pair in a clean frame. Elieser Hernandez toed the slab and surrendered a soft lob single by Fraze with two away. He plated on Starling's double, with Marte reaching third on a bad throw by Brinson. J-Low got bopped and J-Bell was walked before the third out.Nick Kingham answered the eighth inning bell and got into trouble with an out thanks to a double sandwiched around two walks. He lucked out against Brinson, falling behind 3-1 and seeing a belt-high heater lasered into left, but corralled by J-Low. The King couldn't stand success, wild pitching a run home. He did get out of it on a 3-2 pop up, Austin Dean getting underneath a fat fastball. Javy Guerra took the horsehide and tossed a clean inning. Kingham gave up a leadoff double, leaving another grooved 3-2 heater over the dish. Then the light went on, Nick finally found the dish, and got a pop and two punchouts to cruise home. RTJR.

Nice to see Ivan and J-Bell bounce back, and the kiddies carried their weight today.  Even with the Steelers and Pitt kicking it off,it should be an interesting September, both to see how the puppies do during their brief show time and to see if the Pirates can spoil someone's season with two sets against the Brew Crew and one each with the Cards and Cubs.

Notes:

• Fraze and Joey O had a pair of hits while J-Bell homered for a second straight game and walked twice. Osuna had two chances at third and handled them both routinely.
• Today was the first time in four games that the Pirates have scored with Nova on the bump.
• Ivan tied his season-high strikeout mark with nine, last done against the Fish in April.
• On the flip side, Nova booted a ball and has committed five errors this season; he's never had more than two in any single season prior to this year. Overall, the Pirates lead the majors in pitcher misplays with 21. Their 84 wild pitches also lead the league. God helps those...

No more Gregory this year (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Gregory Polanco will miss the rest of the season. He suffered a major bone bruise in his left knee that will require 6-8 weeks for recovery, along with a left shoulder injury that the team is seeking a second opinion on.
• There was an announced crowd of 16,110 at the yard, many disguised as empty seats on a miserable day.
• Ol' Bucco RHP Rob Scahill was called up by the White Sox.