PHILADELPHIA – After Ivan Nova struck out Odubel Herrera with a changeup to end the third inning, the leader of the Pirates' pitching rotation scowled at home-plate umpire Tony Randazzo as he walked toward the third-base dugout at Citizens Bank Park.
Moments earlier, Nova was called for a balk, allowing a runner to move to second base. He proceeded to retire eight consecutive batters, pitching through the sixth inning; however, the Pirates' offense remained cold and George Kontos allowed the go-ahead run in the eighth inning in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Friday night.
The start from Nova, from his bold actions following the balk and his relentless pitching on the mound, was the type of performance Clint Hurdle wants his young starters to learn from, but the actions of the 31-year-old starting pitcher have an impact on each of the other 24 players with whom he shares a clubhouse.
"It makes you want to pick him up," Corey Dickerson said of Nova afterward. "Look how well he’s done. He’s a leader, man. He’s not scared to attack any hitter. He’s a guy you can rally around and know he has that confidence. He’ll do whatever he can for the team. When the night is going like it is you want to scrounge something up for him to get him that W."
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