MIAMI — The 96.5 mph fastball from Marlins starter Jose Ureña struck Josh Harrison in the back of the left hand in the third inning, causing the Pirates' starting second baseman to clutch his left arm and grimace. Moments later, he was removed from Sunday's game at Marlins Park
Then, his fellow position players proceeded to string together 12 more hits, five of which were by Starling Marte, and his starting pitcher, Ivan Nova, had Harrison's back in more ways than one, as the Pirates defeated the Marlins, 7-3, to earn their third consecutive series win.
Nova, now the leader of the Pirates' pitching staff, hit Marlins right fielder JB Shuck in the right hip later in the third inning and pitched 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts. The three players in the middle of the team's order did their part with a combined 10 hits and six RBIs.
That lifted the Pirates' record to 11-4 overall, 7-2 on the road, and they accomplished the victory with a bit of anger.
"We definitely got pissed off about it," Sean Rodriguez told DKPittsburghSports.com. "We get pitchers have to pitch inside. That’s how it goes, but when it’s a guy who’s been hit quite a few times it can get you a little more emotional than you want to get. It’s hard not to. Look what he's been through."
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