Jones Not Sharp in Pirates’ Loss to Cubs; Cruz Has Big Game

PITTSBURGH — Jared Jones struggled in his return from the injured list and the Pittsburgh Pirates once again dropped an ugly one, falling 9-5 to the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Tuesday. 

Recap

The Pirates (62-70) jumped out to a 2-0 in the first inning against Justin Steele. Oneil Cruz brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to left-center and Bryan De La Cruz stroked an RBI-double to left. 

After that, the Cubs (67-66) responded with nine unanswered runs. 

Jones began his first start back from injury with three-scoreless innings but the Cubs did damage against him in the fourth.

Seiya Suzuki evened the score with an opposite-field two-run homer over the Clemente Wall. Three batters later, Nico Hoerner delivered an RBI-double to left before Dansby Swanson crushed a two-run homer to right-center to put the Cubs ahead 5-2.

Jones (5-7) was finished after four innings. He allowed five runs on five hits, walked three and struck out four. 

In the fifth inning, Ben Heller issued back-to-back walks with the bases loaded before Miguel Amaya delivered a two-run single, capping off a four-run inning.

De La Cruz put an end to the Cubs’ scoring run with a solo homer to center. It was his first home run since the Pirates acquired him at the trade deadline.

Nick Gonzales doubled home Bryan Reynolds with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cruz plated Gonzales with his fourth hit of the night, an RBI-single to right to bring the game to its final tally of 9-5.

Key Moment

On Hoerner’s double in the fourth, it looked like the Pirates had Isaac Paredes out at home plate, but catcher Henry Davis couldn’t handle a one-hop relay throw from shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. On the very next pitch, Swanson connected on his two-run homer.

Star of the Game

Cruz’s four-hit night was his second game this month with at least four hits. He finished for 4 for 4 with a pair of RBIs, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly. Cruz had five hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 2.

Stat to Know

With four more strikeouts, Jones is up to 102 on the season. He and Paul Skenes (130 strikeouts) have both recorded 100-plus strikeouts, marking the second time in franchise history two rookies struck out at least 100 batters in the same season. Steve Cooke (132) and Paul Wagner (114) did so in 1993.

Noteworthy

• RHPs Jared Jones and Carmen Mldozinski were both activated off the 15-day injured list. Mlodzinski threw two-scoreless innings out of the bullpen. 
• INF/OF Ji Hwan Bae was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and LHP Brady Feigl was designated for assignment

Up Next

The Pirates and Cubs will wrap up their three-game series at PNC Park on Wednesday afternoon. Paul Skenes (8-2, 2.16 ERA) will look to boost his Rookie of the Year resumé. Veteran Kyle Hendricks (3-10, 6.33 ERA) will start for Chicago. First pitch: 12:35 ET.