Jared Jones pitched seven dominant innings and Jack Suwinski lined a pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single to left-center field in the ninth to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Connor Joe led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single off Rockies reliever Nick Mears (0-3). An out later, Joe advanced to second on Mears’ wild pitch to Yasmani Grandal, who grounded out to move Joe to third with two down.
Jared Triolo took a four-pitch walk before Colorado intentionally walked Oneil Cruz to load the bases for Suwinski, who seared Mears’ 0-1 fastball to snap the Pirates’ five-game losing streak.
Jones was masterful for Pittsburgh. He surrendered one hit without walking a batter and tied his career high with 10 strikeouts.
The right-hander was perfect until Elias Diaz ripped a double down the left field line to lead off the fifth. Jones slithered out of the inning by striking out Elehuris Montero and retiring Charlie Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers.
Colin Holderman pitched a clean eighth and David Bednar (2-2) followed suit in the ninth as the Pirates’ staff combined to retire 27 of the 28 Rockies hitters it faced.
Colorado starter Austin Gomber limited Pittsburgh to four hits over six shutout innings. He walked two and struck out three.
The Pirates hit three balls that were caught on the warning track. The Rockies’ Jake Cave smoked a ball that Michael A. Taylor flagged down on the track in deep center to lead off the ninth.
Both of Colorado’s corner outfielders made crucial defensive plays against Joe.
Cave threw out Joe at second base from right field to start the second inning as Joe tried to stretch his leadoff single into a double. Cave’s play proved pivotal, as two more batters in the inning reached before Cruz struck out with two outs to keep the game scoreless.
Left fielder Jordan Beck saved a potential run in the sixth when he made a diving catch on Joe’s soft liner after Ke’Bryan Hayes had stroked a one-out double the previous at-bat.
Joe had two hits for Pittsburgh.
–Field Level Media
