Manager Don Kelly of the Pirates made the call to end Jared Jones’ no-hitter pursuit, removing the pitcher from the 3-0 game against the Braves after he displayed flawless performance for six innings.
Following an internal brace elbow surgery, the Pirates opted for caution with Jones. Even though he dazzled by striking out eight of the initial 18 batters and didn’t permit a single base runner, the decision was made to pull him from the game.
Despite completing six innings with a total of 77 pitches, Jones was taken out of the game on Wednesday night. In an amusing moment, he humorously attempted to bypass Kelly after leaving the field, which entertained the Pirates’ manager.
“Yeah, I was joking around,” Jones remarked with a grin. “Our pre-game plan was around five innings, but since my pitch count stayed low, they sent me for the sixth. That was it for me tonight; I was just having some fun.”
Jones admitted that the pitch count limitations could be frustrating in situations like this, yet he conveyed his full comprehension of the reasoning behind the decision to withdraw him from the game.
Kelly called the decision to take Jones out of the game a “tough one,” however, the health of a player was at the top of his list of priorities.
“Wanting guys to stay healthy is the number one thing with these guys because we need Jared for the rest of the season throwing the ball like that,” Kelly said. “Trying to push him right now when he’s only had five ups – there’s just no way.”
After Jones exited the game, the perfect outing came to an end, and the shutout ended in the eighth when Joey Bart hit a two-run home run off Dennis Santana.
The Braves added another run in the top of the ninth.