Jones Nearly Perfect as Pirates Blank White Sox Behind Cruz’s Power

There are performances that stick with you, and then there’s what Jared Jones served up on Thursday night at Rate Field. The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ right-hander was absolutely dominant, nearly authoring one of baseball’s rarest feats against a hapless White Sox lineup that couldn’t muster anything resembling an offensive threat. This wasn’t just a win for the Pirates, it was a masterclass in pitching excellence that left Chicago’s hitters looking silly at the plate.

Jones took a no-hitter into the 7th inning, striking out eight batters while walking just two. Only one hit reached base for the White Sox before Montgomery’s double ruined the no-hitter bid, but by that point, the damage was already done. Seven dominant innings, one hit allowed, zero earned runs. That’s the kind of line that gets you noticed come Cy Young voting time, even if it came in a 2-0 shutout rather than the no-no itself.

The Pirates didn’t need much to win this one, which speaks volumes about Jones’ performance. Oneil Cruz provided the offensive heroics with a 433-foot blast off Erick Fedde in the fourth inning that traveled at 117.4 mph. It was the kind of moon shot that reminds you why Cruz is one of the game’s most electrifying talents when he’s locked in. One swing, one run, and the White Sox were already playing catch-up in a game they’d ultimately never catch.

Fedde was the unfortunate recipient of the Martinez treatment, surrendering just two runs over 5.1 innings but still taking the loss because his team couldn’t score. That’s baseball in September when one team has ace-quality stuff and the other has the offensive production of a Triple-A squad. The White Sox lineup looked lost, swinging at pitches out of the zone and making weak contact when they did make contact. It was the kind of performance that makes you question whether this team has any real playoff aspirations remaining.

Cruz added an insurance run in the eighth with a clutch single to right field, scoring Jared Triolo and putting the game firmly out of reach. That’s two RBIs for the Pirates’ star, two hits in four at-bats, and a reminder that when he’s healthy and focused, he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League. The Pirates rode his bat and Jones’ arm to a complete victory, leaving the White Sox looking up from the bottom of the AL Central standings.

Defense Makes the Difference

Beyond the pitching and hitting, the Pirates’ defense put on a show worthy of the primetime slot. Jake Mangum’s diving catch to preserve the no-hitter bid, Braden Montgomery’s acrobatic play in right field, and Cruz’s own sliding catch all contributed to keeping the White Sox completely off the board. Defense wins games, the saying goes, and Thursday night was Exhibit A for that truism.

The Bottom Line

This was a complete victory from top to bottom for Pittsburgh. Jones was vintage excellence, Cruz provided the power, and the defense cleaned up the mess. The White Sox, meanwhile, offered little resistance. For a team still fighting for relevance, it’s another reminder that September baseball is unforgiving, and when you can’t string together competitive performances, you get run over by teams with better talent and execution. The Pirates showed up ready for business on Thursday night. The White Sox simply showed up.