North Shore Nine

When the Pirates struggle on offense, it often feels like it takes a shutout for the team to have a chance at winning. On Saturday, Jared Jones paved the way for the Pirates to sneak away with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Jones continued to pitch like the best player on the roster, striking out ten Rockies over seven innings. Jones threw 96 pitches and allowed one baserunner, a double by Elias Diaz in the top of the fifth. Colin Holderman lived up to his name with a scoreless nine-pitch inning in the eighth, and David Bednar struck out one and allowed no baserunners in the ninth.

Connor Joe singled on a line drive in the second inning, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Yasmani Grandal singled in his Pirates debut, Andrew McCutchen also singled, and Ke’Bryan Hayes doubled.

Connor Joe lead off the ninth with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and reached third on a groundout from Yasmani Grandal. Jared Triolo followed with a walk and Oneil Cruz was intentionally walked, putting Suwinski at the plate with the bases full of Bucs. On an 0-1 count, Suwinski lined the ball to left-center field for a win.

Tomorrow, Bailey Falter takes the bump to try and give the Pirates a series win. Falter, though, has a personal incentive to pitch well–his spot in the rotation may be on the line. Paul Skenes pitches tomorrow in Indianapolis in what could be his last AAA appearance, and he may take Falter’s spot on May 10.