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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jared Jones pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPittsburgh Pirates’ Jared Jones pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Pirates (51-47) won their fourth game in a row on Saturday, July 18, maintaining their momentum through the All-Star Break and a smoke-induced postponement with a 7-1 win. Jared Jones pitched lights out, shiny new trade acquisition Jacob Gonzales homered, and rookie Esmerlyn Valdez continued his historic hot streak in the first leg of a doubleheader.<\/p>\n
Scoring Plays<\/p>\n
Top 2nd, 2-0 PIT: Pirates trade acquisition Jacob Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in his second at-bat with the team, smoking the ball 428 feet to right.<\/p>\n
Bottom 3rd, 2-1 PIT: Cleveland got one back in the bottom of the third on a two-out triple from Travis Bazzana; Jared Jones managed to limit the damage to one run.<\/p>\n
Top 6th, 5-1 PIT: Pittsburgh\u2019s punishing swings continued in the sixth inning with home runs from star rookie Esmerlyn Valdez and the Pirates\u2019 other Gonzales, Nick.<\/p>\n
Top 8th, 7-1 PIT: Brandon Lowe singled and Bryan Reynolds doubled to begin the inning, each advancing 90 feet on a wild pitch that plated Lowe. Ryan O\u2019Hearn lofted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 7-1.<\/p>\n
Key Moment<\/p>\n
Jared Jones has had an up-and-down season since returning from injury and, while he remains on a pitch count \u2014 throwing just 74 on Saturday afternoon \u2014 he did so effectively, churning through five innings and striking out nine batters. After the Guardians cut the gap to one in the third inning, Jones remained composed, shaking off the effects of two two-out hits. His steady performance kept the Pirates in front long enough to pile on.<\/p>\n
Player of the Game<\/p>\n
Jones, who built off six perfect innings in his last start before the All-Star Break, becoming one of just three Pirates\u2019 pitchers in the past 70 years to retire 30 consecutive batters. The streak ended with a two-out single in the third.<\/p>\n
Stat to Know<\/p>\n
Only four players in Pirates history had eight or more home runs during their first 100 big league at-bats. Esmerlyn Valdez (11 homers in 98 at-bats) joins Craig Wilson (2001), Dino Restelli (1949) and R.C. Stevens (1958-1960). Valdez holds the record; Wilson comes in second with nine.<\/p>\n
Notable Performances<\/p>\n
Jared Jones: 5 IP, 1 ER, 9 K\u2019s, 3 hits and 1 walk<\/p>\n
Bryan Reynolds: 2-for-4 with a double<\/p>\n
Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-4 with a homer<\/p>\n
Nick Gonzales: 2-for-4 with a homer<\/p>\n
Jacob Gonzales: 2-for-4 with a homer<\/p>\n
Up Next<\/p>\n
The Pirates will continue their series with Cleveland in the second leg of a split doubleheader, first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. The Guardians will trot out left-hander Logan Allen (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO) making his second appearance of the season; the Pirates haven\u2019t yet announced a starter but called up Khristian Curtis and Wilber Dotel today<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Esmerlyn Valdez<\/a> Jacob Gonzalez<\/a> Jared Jones<\/a> Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n