Pirates’ rising ace does something no Pittsburgh pitcher has done since 1981

After a difficult return from injury earlier this season, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones is beginning to look like one of the brightest young pitchers in baseball again.

Jones continued his remarkable turnaround Saturday, leading the Pirates to a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a doubleheader while accomplishing a feat not seen in Pittsburgh for more than four decades.

The 24-year-old retired 30 consecutive batters over a three-start stretch before the streak came to an end in the third inning against Cleveland. It marked only the third time in the past 70 seasons that a Pirates pitcher has retired at least 30 straight hitters, placing Jones alongside one of the franchise’s most exclusive pitching achievements.

His dominant stretch began on July 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies. After surrendering an RBI double to Bryce Harper in the third inning, Jones retired the final four batters he faced. He followed that performance with six perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves on July 8 before opening Saturday’s game by retiring Cleveland’s first eight hitters.

The streak finally ended when Steven Kwan lined a single into left field. Cleveland rookie All-Star second baseman Travis Bazzana followed with an RBI triple into the right-field corner, cutting Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1.

Pirates may have found their next ace 

Despite allowing the run, Jones quickly regained control. He finished with one earned run on three hits while striking out a season-high nine batters over five impressive innings.

“Giving up a run, I had some choice words for myself,” Jones said. “But yeah, just hearing those numbers and sitting back and realizing what I’ve done over the last three games, it’s been pretty cool.”

Jones’ resurgence is especially encouraging after he struggled through his first six starts following his return from the right elbow injury that sidelined him for much of last season.

The last Pirates pitcher to retire at least 30 consecutive batters was Jim Bibby in 1981, when he recorded 32 straight outs over two starts.

If Jones continues pitching at this level, the young right-hander could quickly reestablish himself as the ace Pittsburgh envisioned before his injury.

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