CHICAGO -- Jared Jones has waited his whole life for moments like this: a crucial start with postseason implications on the line. After working his way back from an internal brace surgery in May 2025, Thursday night’s 6 ⅔ no-hit innings held even more meaning.
“Going through the injury I did wasn't fun. A lot of hours on the couch watching the guys play last year and parts of this year,” Jones told MLB.com postgame. “So being able to come out here when we're in must-win games throughout the entire month, and going out there and getting a win, it feels really good.”
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.
“We've got a really good clubhouse, a lot of really good guys here and a lot of good talent,” Jones said. “So I feel like our record doesn't translate to where we should be at. But I think if anyone can go on a run and find our way in the playoffs, it's us.”
Just a few hours after news broke of another Pirates starter hitting the injured list, Jones eased the tension. Braxton Ashcraft was placed on the 15-day injured list with right arm discomfort, and after a bullpen game Wednesday and another one on the way Friday, Jones needed to deliver a deep start. To Jones, his performance was “what you want as a starting pitcher.”
“I feel like the past couple of years, just watching our starters go out there and compete,” he said. “In my opinion, I feel like that's kind of the heartbeat of our team. Keeping us in games, then letting the offense take over when time's needed, like tonight.”
Jones remembered coming off the field in the sixth inning and seeing the zero under the White Sox hits total on the scoreboard. “Oh [shoot],” he thought to himself.
As Jones sprinted out for the seventh inning at 79 pitches, he was in unfamiliar territory. 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. Jones also had not pitched into the seventh inning since Sept. 8, 2024, before his elbow surgery.
He is carrying a 4.10 ERA in 18 starts, ranging from performances as sharp as six perfect innings to eight earned runs in three innings. Jones found his rhythm on Thursday night and ran with it.
“[The] whole thing was really impressive,” Kelly said. “... He had the six perfect innings earlier, and then today was just as good, if not better than that.”
When Jones finished the sixth, he was just 12 pitches shy of his season high of 91. That left Kelly with a difficult decision, balancing Jones' chase for history with his health and the Pirates' need to win.
After deliberation with pitching coach Bill Murphy, Kelly stuck with Jones, slotting him for a maximum of seven innings to see how it would play out.
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.
“I [asked] Donnie if I didn't give up a hit, what was his call there, and he said I'd probably be done,” Jones said. “But I said I would have hidden from [Kelly] for the entire inning. So yeah, I probably would have found my way out there in the eighth if I could.”
As Jones thrived, Oneil Cruz drove in two runs with three hits. It was plenty for Jones, along with relievers Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery, to secure the victory.
Jones might have been sitting on his couch watching the Pirates just a year ago. Now, as they surge amid a postseason race, Jones is reaching the pinnacle of his game.