Jones’ brief lack of execution proves costly in loss to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- Despite posting his second consecutive quality start and the seventh in a row by a Pirates starting pitcher, there was more to be desired on the part of Jared Jones. 

Yes, he limited the Phillies to just three runs in 6 1/3 innings and struck out eight, but a 5-1 setback wasn't what Jones wanted to see as the final result in the first game of a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park Thursday night. 

"It’s not fun when you’re losing, and we lost today," said Jones, who surrendered six hits, including a pair of home runs, in his third start of the season. 

There were two separate instances in which Jones briefly lacked execution. 

First, he left a 1-2 curveball over the plate to Alec Bohm and paid for it in the form of this solo shot in the fourth inning: 

Then, Brandon Marsh hit a 3-2 slider on the outer part of the zone that just snuck over the wall in left-center field for a two-run homer that ended Jones' night with one out in the seventh: 

“I made two really bad pitches and they ended up hurting me," Jones said. "I threw a curveball right down the middle and that went over the fence, and I threw a slider right down the middle and that went over the fence. Executing those two pitches, it’s everything.” 

Derek Shelton chose to look more on the bright side of Jones' outing. He attacked hitters and showed good command of the zone, putting together a second straight start with no walks. He hasn't allowed a free pass since the sixth inning of his major-league debut on March 30, becoming the fourth Pirates pitcher to debut in the Expansion Era (since 1961) and have a streak of 12-plus innings without a walk in his first three career appearances. Gerrit Cole was the last to do it in 2013. 

"He pitched well. He gave up the solo homer early and then the pitch that Marsh hit out wasn't a terrible pitch. He just put a pretty good swing on it," Shelton said. "But overall, no walks, he continued to go after people, I think he threw the ball well." 

Jones also made some history by joining Jose DeLeon as the lone Pirates pitchers to begin their big-league careers with three straight seven-plus strikeout performances. DeLeon had five straight to begin his career in 1983. The last MLB pitcher to accomplish the feat was Eduardo Rodriguez in 2015. 

"Just as advertised," Colin Holderman said. "It's amazing. Love watching it out there. Wish I had a better view, a little closer. It was awesome to watch."

The slider was at the forefront of Jones' success, as he turned to it 38 times and totaled 11 whiffs with six called strikes. His fastball, which averaged around 97 mph, didn't have the same effect as usual. He had just two whiffs and six called strikes while going to it 37 times. Jones mixed in an occasional curveball and changeup, but the slider was his go-to pitch on this day. 

Through three career starts, Jones has generated 58 swings and misses, the most by a pitcher during that span since the pitch-tracking era began in 2018. Griffin Canning previously held the record with 52. 

"He commands it and he goes right after people," Shelton said of Jones. "That's a veteran lineup. They knew he was going to throw strikes, they came out really aggressive and he still was able to maintain control of the game." 

Jones was outdueled by Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, who allowed two hits and two walks while striking out eight in six scoreless innings. He relied on a balanced pitch mix that featured his four-seam fastball (24 times), sinker (24), curveball (21), cutter (15) and changeup (13). 

"He was on the edges, man," Shelton said. "He threw the ball on the edges and he kept us off the barrel. That's what he does. When he's really effective, that's what he does. He goes to both sides of the plate, he uses the cutter and the sinker, and he was really good tonight." 

Fresh off a stint on the injured list due to an illness that hindered him towards the end of spring training, Holderman relieved Jones with one out in the seventh. The Pirates' deficit sat at 3-0 before miscommunication in the outfield between Michael A. Taylor and Edward Olivares allowed a fly ball off the bat of Nick Castellanos to drop. He reached and ended up on second before Holderman surrendered a two-run shot to Bryson Stott on a sinker at the bottom of the zone: 

"He gave up a homer but I think he threw nine pitches and he threw eight strikes," Shelton said of Holderman. "The ball came out well. It was good to see him back out there. We misplayed a ball and a homer came after that. Overall he looked healthy and the ball came out well." 

Offensively, the Pirates finished with seven hits and 14 strikeouts. Edward Olivares contributed with a two-hit performance and Jared Triolo drove in the team's lone run with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning.