Takeaways and Throwaways – A Beaut for Pittsburgh Pirates Nova

The Pittsburgh Pirates blank the Miami Marlins 4-0 in a gem of a complete game for Ivan Nova in the Sunshine State.

Welcome to Takeaways & Throwaways. Shortly after every Pittsburgh Pirates game, come to Pirates Breakdown to see our flash recap format. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the game, without making you read the same boring recap you can see anywhere else.

FINAL: Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Miami Marlins 0

W-  Ivan Nova (3-2)  L – Dan Straily (1-2)

Takeaways

• Ivan Nova (see Line of the Night)
• Jordy Mercer has given the Pirates an early lead in the last two games, tonight netting a two-out RBI single in the second. According to broadcaster Greg Brown, after that hit, Mercer is hitting over .375 with runners in scoring position.
• What’s all of this fuss about pace of play? This game was into the 5th one hour after the start and was finished up in 2 hours 31 minutes.
• Victor Ngoepe sitting in the stands watching his brother get his second start in the bigs.

Throwaways

• Francisco Cervelli had everyone holding their breath when, in the 4th he suffered some sort of knee/hammy/”lower body” injury. He went on to come back from an 0-2 count to take a walk in the 6th, and finish the game – which is great news. Not only do the Pirates NOT need another injury right now – but after an injury-riddled season in 2016, the last thing he needs is time on the DL.
• No word on #RallyCat or Don Cattingly as the frisky feline that invaded Marlins Park in mid-April. What up Root Sports? We expect hard-hitting reporting here!

Line Of the Night

It goes without saying that these honors go to Ivan Nova. In his 5th complete game in 16 starts as a Pirate, this man was just a laser, facing, according to Root Sports Pittsburgh, the minimum number of batters in 7 of his 9 innings. His final numbers: in 9 innings, he gave up three hits, no runs, no walks and struck out 7. He threw a complete game in 95 pitches, 65 for strikes. Nova’s ERA is currently 1.50.

Vote in Our Player Of the Game Poll

After each game, win or lose, Pirates Breakdown will ask YOU for your Pittsburgh Pirates player of the game. Hop over to our twitter to cast your vote!

Pirates fry the fish 4-0. Who is your player of the game?

— Jason Rollison (@jrollisonpgh) April 30, 2017

Up Next

The Pirates and the Miami Marlins conclude their series at Marlins Park at 1:10 p.m. The Bucs’ Chad Kuhl (1-2), who got rocked his last start, faces the Marlins’ Tom Koehler (1-1).

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