Jones flirts with history as Pirates sweep their way above .500
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CHICAGO -- Just a few hours after news broke of another Pirates starter hitting the injured list, Jared Jones eased the tension.
Jones didn’t allow a hit until the 23rd batter of the game, a double by Colson Montgomery. He left Montgomery stranded and finished his seven scoreless innings with a hug from manager Don Kelly. Jones’ dominant start with one hit allowed and two walks led to a 2-0 win for the Pirates over the White Sox at Rate Field on Thursday for their first road sweep since July 2025.
Pittsburgh is now over .500 for the first time since July 29 and rides a four-game winning streak into Wrigley Field against the Cubs on Friday.
As Jones sprinted out for the seventh inning at 79 pitches, his dominance reached a boiling point. Pittsburgh hadn’t thrown a no-hitter since 1997, and while Jones’ pitch count made an individual no-hitter unlikely, a combined one was still possible.
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Munetaka Murakami nearly blooped a single into right field to start the frame, but right fielder Jake Mangum sprinted in for a diving catch to keep the no-no intact. Three batters later, the magic died out. Colson Montgomery hammered a 1-1 four-seamer off the top of the right-field wall to end the no-hit bid and put the game-tying runner on second base. Jones induced a lineout to end the threat and his outing.
Jones’ return from internal brace surgery in 2025 has been anything but comfortable. He’s posted a 4.10 ERA in 18 starts while ranging from performances as sharp as six perfect innings to eight earned runs in three innings. Jones found his rhythm on Thursday night.
Jones needed just 20 pitches to work through the first two frames, striking out two and ripping 99 mph fastballs past White Sox hitters. Quickly, he made opposing batters uncomfortable.
The Pirates couldn’t get much going against opener Hagen Smith, and as Erick Fedde entered, Oneil Cruz unloaded to take the lead.
The 27-year-old is known for his absurd home-run power. Cruz showed it off in the top of the fourth inning, blasting a 1-1 changeup deep into the night. His shot went a Statcast-projected 433 feet and 117.4 mph off the bat to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
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Cruz added on in the eighth with a run-scoring single, his third hit of the game, to make it 2-0. Pittsburgh’s bullpen took care of the final six outs to complete the sweep.