Jones Halts Perfect Game Bid After Six Innings

The Decision to Pull Jared Jones

With a perfect game bid intact, Pirates manager Don Kelly opted to remove Jared Jones after the sixth inning on Wednesday night. Jones, who had retired all 18 batters he faced and recorded eight strikeouts, had reached 77 pitches. The decision was met with boos from most of the 20,062 in attendance at PNC Park. Kelly maintained that the move was necessary to protect the pitcher’s health as he continues his return from an internal brace procedure on his elbow, which he underwent prior to his May 29 return.

Kelly noted that the team’s priority was keeping Jones healthy for the remainder of the season. “Wanting guys to stay healthy is the number one thing with these guys because we need Jared for the rest of the season throwing the ball like that,” Kelly said. He added that pushing Jones further, given that the pitcher had only completed five innings in one of his seven previous starts this season, was not a viable option. According to Kelly, the team had planned on Jones pitching five innings and 75 pitches, then pushed him for a sixth after he was so efficient and dominant. There was no thought of bringing him out for the seventh, as Kelly noted that for a nine-inning effort, they would have been looking at 120 pitches, which was impossible coming off surgery. “Health is the most important thing,” Kelly said. “[Then] winning the game and then personal accomplishments third.”

Jones’ Perspective on the Hook

Though Jones admitted that being pulled while throwing a perfect game “does suck,” he expressed full understanding of the team’s medical caution. Jones attempted to playfully sneak past his manager in the dugout after the sixth inning, an interaction he later described as “just messing around.”

“Something’s cool coming on, but I’m on what, my eighth start off of surgery? I completely understand it and it is what it is,” Jones said. He confirmed that he was never truly expecting to pitch a full nine innings given his current pitch count constraints. Jones relied heavily on his “bread and butter” fastball and slider throughout the evening, throwing 53 strikes and generating 14 whiffs against the Braves lineup. The Pirates had never before pulled a pitcher after six or more perfect innings.

Joey Bart’s Decisive Home Run

Following Jones’ departure, the Braves finally broke through against the Pittsburgh bullpen. In the eighth inning, former Pirates teammate Joey Bart hit a two-run home run off Dennis Santana to break the scoreless tie. The Braves added a third run in the top of the ninth inning when Drake Baldwin’s single off Isaac Mattson scored Michael Harris II. Center fielder Jake Mangum’s throw toward home sailed past catcher Henry Davis, completing the scoring in the 3-0 Braves victory.

Bart, an Atlanta-area native who starred at Georgia Tech before being taken with the second overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, was complimentary of his former organization. “Those are my brothers over there,” Bart said. “I think I got closer with those guys this year. I’ve got a ton of respect for the Pirates organization. They gave me an opportunity. I respect that. But now I’m obviously thrilled to be an Atlanta Brave, and it’s fun to compete against my old friends.”

Game Context and Statistical Significance

The outing marked a significant milestone for Jones, who had struggled to reach the sixth inning in his previous appearances. On the mound, Jones had completed five innings just once in seven starts this year before Wednesday and had thrown more than 75 pitches twice. Despite Jones’ dominance, the issue for the Pirates was Braves right-hander Grant Holmes, who matched Jones with five zeroes, allowing three singles and hitting a batter. Four Braves relievers kept the Pirates scoreless, and closer Raisel Iglesias pitched a clean ninth for the save. The Pirates managed just four singles all game, stranding seven on base.

Bart remained impressed by Jones, noting that his third-inning flyout would have been a home run in all 29 other ballparks. “He’s the real deal,” Bart said. “He’s got plus stuff, obviously. Everything’s power. He’s a young kid with a big arm and he had it today.” For the Braves, the win was a rare bright spot, marking just their eighth victory in their last 25 games.

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