BALTIMORE — The ball had barely landed in the seats near the left-field foul pole when Francisco Cervelli made his way to the mound. He conversed briefly with Ivan Nova, who until allowing two homers on the first three pitches of the seventh inning had been cruising through the Baltimore Orioles lineup.
Cervelli turned to the dugout. He sought out Todd Tomczyk, waiving the head athletic trainer out to the mound. Manager Clint Hurdle followed. The consultation did not take long; soon Hurdle waved his right arm to the bullpen.
Left knee inflammation knocked Nova from the game, which the Pirates would eventually lose in walk-off fashion, 6-5, against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.