Jared Jones dominant, Konnor Griffin scores in win

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Other than the six hitless innings against the Braves, Jared Jones most dominant performance of the season allowing only three singles over six scoreless innings with one walk and nine strikeouts in a Pirates (70-72) 1-0 win over the Angels in which Konnor Griffin scored the only run in his return.

Four of the six innings, LA went 1-2-3 against Jones Friday night. He struck out multiple batters in four of the last five innings. Jones struck out four straight batters from the end of the fifth to the sixth innings. There was only one time where a runner got past first base, back-to-back singles to start the second inning and then Jones got a pop-up, and a pair of strikeouts including former Pirates All-Star Adam Frazier.

Final line

• 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts, ERA from 4.83 to 4.56

Bullpen

• His first MLB game since August 15, Wilber Dotel threw two scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Mason Montgomery closed it for his 10^th save. He hasn’t given up a run since July 26 covering 16 appearances.

Scoring

Mississippi combined for the Pirates first run, after getting on via a fielders choice, Konnor Griffin, in his first MLB game back in two months, scored all the way from first base on a Jake Mangum double down the right field line. Griffin hustled the entire way and barely beat the tag as he slid to the dugout side of the third base line and got his hand on the base before catcher Moises Ballesteros’ tag.

Notes

• With a runner on first and one out in the 7^th, Oneil Cruz made a sliding catch on a Christian Moore sinking liner to keep the runner at first base
• In only his 2^nd start at 3^rd base, Jacob Gonzalez made a couple of good plays including a pop-up by the Pirates dugout in the second. Starting a double play in the fourth and then a nice throw across for the final out in the inning
• There were only nine total hits in the game, only three base runners reached third base

Minor Leaguers

• AAA left-handed starter Connor Wietgrefe (7^th round pick in 2024) threw 5 scoreless innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, season ERA 3.45
• AAA OF Ronny Simon had two hits and his 72^nd RBI
• High A shortstop Yordany De Los Santos stole his 45^th base, getting on base 3 times
• 2025 7^th round pick 3B Brent Iredale hit home runs in both games of a Bradenton doubleheader, the right-hander now has 14 on the season in 78 games.

Hall of Fame

Pirates honored shortstop Jack Wilson (one of the top 50 defensive WAR players in MLB history), left-handed pitchers John Candelaria (threw last Pirates solo no-hitter) and Wilbur Cooper (Pirates all-time wins leader with 259 career complete games)

Bucco coach anthem

Pirates third-base coach Tony Beasley sang the National Anthem before first pitch to a rousing ovation.

Up Next

Braxton Ashcraft (14-5, 3.59 ERA) looks to be the first Pirates 15-game winner in 11 years facing Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi (0-5, 5.65 ERA) with Dan Zangrilli leading the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 and first pitch at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan.