CINCINNATI _ On Saturday, right-hander Ivan Nova turned back the clock to April. He freed himself from a second-half spiral, facing the minimum through six scoreless innings at Great American Ball Park, but achieved a familiar result: a loss against the Cincinnati Reds. He exited in the seventh with an injury and was done in by an anemic Pirates offense in a 2-1 defeat.
Prior to the seventh, Nova allowed only one hit, a fourth-inning single by Joey Votto, who was then picked off by catcher Elias Diaz. The Reds awakened the third time through the order. Jesse Winker struck a leadoff home run, Zack Cozart doubled and Eugenio Suarez walked. Nova motioned for an athletic trainer and departed mid-inning due to right calf discomfort.
"It's going to be fine," Nova assured afterward. "I'm going to be fine."
For Nova, it was a welcome return to his early-season form. On Saturday, he was charged with two runs in 6 1/3 innings on 79 pitches. He allowed three hits and a walk, striking out six. After posting a 3.21 ERA before the All-Star break, Nova had a 6.60 ERA in 10 second-half starts prior to Saturday. But in this game, like in April and May, Nova received little run support.
"He did his job today," manager Clint Hurdle said.
Nova (11-14) now is 0-4 against the Reds this season, and the Pirates _ now defeated in nine of their past 10 games _ are 6-12 against Cincinnati. Reds right-hander Sal Romano (5-6) hurled eight shutout innings, with five hits and six strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches _ 11 of which were needed to retire leadoff man Adam Frazier in the first inning _ and did not walk a batter.
"(Romano) controlled the strike zone, only threw 23 balls in eight innings," Hurdle said. "I don't think he ever threw three fastballs in a row."
The Pirates had only one batter, Diaz, reach second base prior to the ninth, when Andrew McCutchen smacked his 26th homer this season.
"There's still fight," Hurdle said. "We're just not getting enough things done on offense to put multiple runs in an innings, in a game. ... We're not finding the plate nearly as much as we need to."
Nova, who had a start skipped early in September, said he felt his delivery begin to click during his start Sept. 10 in St. Louis. During a bullpen session in Milwaukee, Nova targeted his tendency to lean toward first base, which he believed was causing him to miss locations.
"When I go through some tough times, like I've been going through, it's easy to say, 'Don't think about it,' " Nova said. "Somehow, in the back of your mind, you'll think about it. You don't want to be the guy that's pitching badly every five days.
"I woke up early (Saturday) and said, 'I feel like today is the day you can get back on track.' "
On Saturday, Nova tried a new pregame approach. Rather than maintain a laser focus in the clubhouse before the game, he attempted to relax. He sat down with Jose Osuna and Diaz as they played a card game called Casino. When first pitch approached, he was ready, but he was looser. When McCutchen made a twisting, turning catch on a tailing line drive in the first inning, Nova laughed and retraced McCutchen's route with his hand.
"I decided to have fun today," Nova said, "to laugh and enjoy the game."
