CHICAGO -- This time a year ago, Ivan Nova was running on fumes. He pitched most of last season through a knee injury that compromised his ability to work out and throw between starts. From that, and his subsequent second-half slide, he drew motivation.
"You've got to be better," Nova said. "I felt that I needed to prove myself and prove to some people that I still could do it."
Nova's season ended in disappointing fashion on Wednesday night as he pitched only four innings, but the Pirates diddn't let him leave Wrigley Field as the losing pitcher.