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Ivan Nova’s Complete Game, Early Offensive Spark Get Pirates Back to .500

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PITTSBURGH — Ivan Nova pitched a complete-game Thursday night as the Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 to get back to .500 and four games back of the National League Wild Card.

Nova was sensational, requiring just 94 pitches to get through nine innings while giving up one run on six hits. He epitomized the Pirates’ quick outs mentality, working his two-seamer low in the zone and inducing 16 ground-ball outs.

He had a bit extra on his side, as well — a three-run lead provided by the offense in the bottom of the first inning.

“That’s huge,” Nova said. “The way I’ve been pitching, I feel like one [or] two is enough. They gave me three in the first inning and that was good enough.”

The Pirates’ offense has been in the doldrums for a while now, but it’s showing signs of breaking out in September. The return of Jung Ho Kang has obviously been a big spark. He hit a two-run double in the first inning while going 1 for 4.

“Fresh legs, I think as much as anything [have been the difference],” Hurdle said Wednesday. “He’s such a big utilizer of his lower-half when he hits. His legs are fresh. The base and the foundation are strong. He’s absolutely charged balls here.”

But it hasn’t just been Kang’s return that has made a difference. On Thursday, the Pirates hit five doubles, including two in their big first inning. Even though they lost two of three straight, it was more of the same against the Cardinals. The Pirates had a four-hit, three-run first inning on Wednesday, a four-hit, four run fifth inning on Tuesday and a two-run, four-hit second inning on Monday.

The Pirates’ offense is built around those big innings, with runners getting on base early and multiple hitters contributing.

“You just get it going and keep it rolling, really,” shortstop Jordy Mercer said. “Pass the baton to the next guy. That’s what we do.”

The Pirates are also finding other way to get on base. They drew five walks (two intentional) against the Reds and were hit by two pitches. It took Reds starter Dan Straily 89 pitches to get through five innings. Wednesday, Mike Leake was chased after 75 pitches and 4.1 innings.

That’s the same approach that allowed the Pirates to start the season as one of the National League’s hottest offense, and it seems that the pieces may be in place for another such a run. The Pirates are back up third in the National League with a .330 team on-base percentage.

The fire-starter at the top of the order has been controversial leadoff hitter Josh Harrison. With a .308 OBP on the season, Harrison is not — statically speaking — the kind of player most teams would look to for that role. He’s dead-last on the team among regular players in the category. Yet, since his move to the top spot, he’s hitting .310 and has a more-respectable .326 on-base percentage. The power is coming around, too, with four doubles in his last 10 games, including a leadoff two-bagger Thursday.

“We’re going to leave him alone and let him play because he’s doing a nice job at the front of the order,” Hurdle said. “Sometimes, the enemy of good is great. To try and do more or add something more to it. He’s given us a shot in the arm.”

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