Phillips homers twice; Bailey struggles in defeat

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PITTSBURGH — A night after letting a ninth-inning lead slip away and a strong start go unrewarded, Tony Watson made sure both would stand. The new Pirates closer shut the door on Ivan Nova’s Pittsburgh debut with a clean ninth inning Saturday night, picking up his second save of the season and punctuating the Pirates’ 5-3 win over the Reds at PNC Park.

Acquired just before Monday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline and effectively replacing veteran lefty Francisco Liriano, Nova immediately rewarded the Pirates’ faith in him. Plagued only by a pair of Brandon Phillips solo homers, Nova allowed three runs over seven efficient innings, striking out five batters without a walk. Phillips took Nova deep to left in the second and again in the seventh for his 13th career multi-homer game.

Pittsburgh didn’t bash the ball around the …

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