Jones has ‘confidence boost’ outing as Bucs roar back in opener
CHICAGO — Jred Jonesa’ return from the injured list last week represented a boost for the Pirates’ starting rotation for the final month-plus of the 2024 season. In the long run, Jones pitching down the stretch and through September could pay huge dividends for the Pirates.
“The difference between playing baseball in September, you cannot replicate it,” manager Derek Shelton said before the Pirates’ 5-3, come-from-behind win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday. “The season is so long. … Being able to finish a season is very important because it’s not only a physical grind, but it’s a mental grind.
“The physical part of it comes when they end the season and they realize ‘Damn, how am I going to prepare for next year?’ And the mental grind is the last month of the season when you’re tired, you have to get up and execute.”
Jones went on the 15-day injured list on July 4 with a right lat strain and was activated on Friday. He made his second start since returning on Monday, in Pittsburgh’s series opener against Chicago, he delivered the type of performance that has come to define a strong rookie season.
Jones threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits and one walk. He surrendered a home run and struck out four. The Pirates backed him with a late rally; Bryan Reynolds hit a game-tying three-run homer and Andrew McCutchen hit a go-ahead solo blast in the eighth inning.
“That was the best I’ve felt, realistically, since even before the injury,” Jones said. “Everything was working, and that was a pretty good day.”
