Jones takes perfect game into the 6th, Pirates top Cardinals 2-0 for 5th
straight win
[September 23, 2026]
By WILL GRAVES
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jared Jones allowed one hit over
seven dominant innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates inched closer to the
franchise's first winning season in eight years with a 2-0 win over St.
Louis on Tuesday night.
The hard-throwing Jones (5-6) retired the first 16 batters he faced
before Nathan Church's bloop landed just beyond the outstretched glove
of Pirates third baseman Jacob Gonzalez with one out in the sixth.
Church sprinted to second for a double but remained there after Masyn
Wynn lined out and J.J. Wetherholt struck out to end the inning. |
Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin slides into third with a triple off
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante during the fifth inning of a
baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J.
Puskar) |
|
Jones, who returned from Tommy John surgery in late May, tied a
season high with nine strikeouts in seven innings and improved
to 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts in September. Gregory Soto
worked around a leadoff walk to record his 16th save.
Ryan O'Hearn delivered an RBI-single for the Pirates and rookie
shortstop Konnor Griffin had two hits for Pittsburgh, and Bryan
Reynolds added his major league-leading 40th double. The Pirates
have won five straight to improve to 80-77 with five games
remaining. Pittsburgh is seeking its first winning campaign
since going 82-79 in 2018.
Andre Pallant (12-8) nearly matched Jones pitch for pitch in six
innings of work. The right-hander's only hiccup came in the
sixth, when Oneil Cruz walked with one out, moved to second on a
fielder's choice and scored on O'Hearn's sharp single to left.
Pallant is just 2-2 in 10 starts since the All-Star break
despite pitching to a 3.00 ERA over that span.
The Cardinals fell to 76-81 with the loss. If St. Louis doesn't
win out, the franchise will experience consecutive losing
seasons for the first time since 1958 and 1959, the
second-longest stretch between consecutive losing years in the
history of major North American professional sports.
Up next
The series continues on Wednesday. Matthew Liberatore (5-14,
5.36 ERA) gets the start for the Cardinals. The Pirates have yet
to announce a starter in what is likely a bullpen game.
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