Jared Jones mowed down the Mets last night, going five innings and giving up just a bloop double to Pete Alonso, while striking out seven and walking none. But the Pirates’ bullpen blew another game, as Luis Ortiz ran into trouble in the 7th. He walked Francisco Lindor with one out, gave up a single to Alsonso and a game-tying RBI double to Joey Wendle. Then Jose Hernandez was called for a balk that scored Alonso and Jeff McNeil doubled to give the Mets their final run in a 3-1 win.
The Pirates managed only five hits in the game, although Bryan Reynolds was robbed of a hit by a baserunning mistake by Connor Joe. Reynolds drove in the lone Pirates run with a single after Alika Williams had doubled in the 5th.
Manager Derek Shelton says the three walks in the 7th, one by Ortiz and two by Hernandez, caused a lot of damage.
The story of the game for the Bucs was Jared Jones. He was pulled from the game after just 59 pitches, 50 of them strikes. The rookie has not walked a batter since his first game of the season, and has walked only two batters in four starts.
Shelton says Jones was taken out after 5 innings as the Pirates try to manage the young hurler’s pitch count, and he didn’t object.
Jones had thrown 89, 80, and 85 pitches in his first three starts for the Pirates. Shelton says protecting Jones against wear and tear is the key to keeping him healthy.
Jones is the first pitcher ever to throw less than 60 pitches, and 50 of them for strikes, since the Statcast era began in 2000.
Ke’Bryan Hayes was a late scratch for the Pirates because of stiffness in his lower back. He is listed as day-to-day.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal began a rehab assignment in Indianapolis last night and was 0-for-2 with a walk. In that 10-6 Indy win, Nick Gonzalez had four hits and Ji Hwan bae had 2.
Bailey Falter (1-0, 4.20 ERA) starts this afternoon for the Pirates, looking for his third straight strong outing in the series finale in New York. He faces Mets righthander Luis Severino (1-1, 3.00 ERA). It’s a 12:45 airtime, 1:10 first pitch on WCCS.
ALTOONA CURVE
Bowie plated five runs in the 7th inning to knock off Altoona 10-4. Tsung-Che Cheng was 3-for-3 with his first home run of the season for the Curve.
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