Ivan Nova, Sean Rodriguez Lead Pirates To 5-3 Win Over Phillies

Ivan Nova recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts and Sean Rodriguez blasted a three-run homer to right field off Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez in the ninth inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.

Ivan Nova, Sean Rodriguez Lead Pirates To 5-3 Win Over Phillies

“It’s easier said than done, but you try to simplify it,” said Rodriguez, who set a new career high with his 13th homer. “You just try to execute. That’s all you can do and just hope it works out. Today, I was able to come out on top.”

Pittsburgh was three outs away from a five-game losing streak Tuesday before Rodriguez ended the Bucs’ September skid.

Francisco Cervelli drew a leadoff walk, Jordy Mercer doubled to right and Rodriguez fired his second career pinch-hit homer. Lefty Tony Watson closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth, earning his 12th save.

The Pirates had dropped 140 consecutive games when trailing after eight innings, with their previous such win coming on July 12, 2014, against the Reds. However, they snapped that streak– and their four-game slump– to undo Philadelphia’s one-run lead on Tuesday.

“We were talking about it in there tonight because they kept bringing it up on the TV. I heard it 37 times in the ninth inning,” Bucs manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s something that’s really peculiar, and I’m really glad it’s over.”

Pittsburgh remain six games behind the Mets for the second NL Wild Card.

Playing in only his third Major League game, 23-year-old Phillies left fielder Roman Quinn had two hits and scored a go-ahead run in the eighth on Freddy Galvis’ sacrifice fly.

It’s definitely a big part of my game, and I want to use it as much as possible,” Quinn said about his speed.

Nova, a right-hander, entered 5-0 since being acquired form the Yankees on Aug. 1. In addition to his 11 strikeouts, he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk, leaving in the seventh after tossing 92 pitches. In eight starts with the Pirates, Nova has put together a 2.41 ERA with 43 strikeouts and only three walks in 52 1/3 innings.

Nova missed his chance to become the second Pirates pitcher to go 6-0 in his first eight starts.

“I was getting ahead in the count and I threw some good sinkers and that was a good thing for me,” Nova said. “They’re an aggressive team and they were out there swinging.”

Phillies rookie right-hander Alec Asher allowed two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Hurdle was ejected for the sixth time this season and the 51st time in his managerial career in the sixth frame. The Bucs manager heatedly argued with first-base umpire Alan Porter over a call that resulted in Ryan Howard beating out a double-play grounder to bring in the go-ahead run for the Phillies and give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead.

Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier had a tough night on the bases and in the field, making two costly errors. Frazier gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the third inning but tried to stretch it into a double, only to be thrown out at second base. The following batter, Josh Bell, smacked a double to center that might have scored Frazier. The rookie utility player hit Howard’s grounder in the fourth, thus allowing Quinn to score from second to tie it up.

Tuesday’s game marked Nova’s sixth career double-digit strikeout outing and his first since July 5, 2013. He has faced 201 batters as a Pirate and walked three of them.

The two teams will face off again for the third game of a four-game series in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Rookie Pirates (70-73, 3rd in NL Central) lefty Steven Brault will make his sixth Major League start, while right-hander Jake Thompson will take the mound for the Phillies (64-81, 4th in NL East).

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 13: Sean Rodriguez #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a three run home run in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates won 5-3. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)