Jones deals 6 perfect innings vs. Braves, exits as Bucs play it safe with elbow

PITTSBURGH – Jared Jones isn’t afraid to criticize himself, calling himself out when he’s being lit up. He did just that after his start on June 27 against the Reds, where he allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

Since that start, Jones has been near perfect. On Wednesday night, he was perfect.

Jones didn’t allow a baserunner, striking out eight of the first 18 batters he faced. Jones exited after six innings and 77 pitches as the Pirates remain cautious with his surgically repaired elbow. Pittsburgh’s bullpen spoiled the perfection, leading to a 3-0 loss to the Braves.

The performance was his best since returning from surgery on May 29 after a year away from the game.

Jones showed hints of a stellar performance in Philadelphia almost a week ago, allowing only two hits with two walks in four innings. Since he is fresh off surgery, Pittsburgh is being extremely cautious with the pitcher, typically holding him in the 70-80 pitch range.

After five innings Wednesday, Jones was at 67 pitches, though no one was warming up in the Pirates' bullpen. Atlanta’s offense has performed as a juggernaut all year, but Jones struck out Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin in their first two at-bats.

Former Pirates catcher Joey Bart sent a drive to left field in the third inning that would’ve been a home run in the other 29 MLB ballparks -- but Bryan Reynolds leaped at the wall to make the catch.

Keeping with his pitch count, Jones received hugs after another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, marking the end of his career day. Mason Montgomery entered in the seventh and allowed a single to the second batter he faced, Ozzie Albies, just off the glove of leaping third baseman Nick Gonzales.

Pittsburgh and Atlanta remained tied at 0-0 into the eighth until Bart left the yard for a two-run shot. The Braves added another run in the ninth to build a cushion that the Pirates' offense couldn’t climb back from.