Andre Jackson Notches First Big League Win as Pirates Take Down Royals 4-1

Andre Jackson earned his first-career major league victory as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium to complete the series sweep.

Recap

Jackson (1-1) pitched 5.2 innings of one-run ball for the Pirates while allowing only two hits. The right-hander walked a pair and struck out seven batters.

The lone run allowed by Jackson came on a Bobby Witt Jr. solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. The blast was Witt’s 27th of the season.

Bryan Reynolds got the Pirates on the board with a 439-foot solo home run in the first inning. In the second, Vinny Capra drove in a run with a double down the left field line.

Jack Suwinski registered his first home run since July 24 with a solo shot to straightaway center field in the top of the seventh. Suwinski  also drove in a run with a base hit in the second.

David Bednar pitched for the first time in five days and collected his 29th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

Key Moment 

With the Pirates leading by two and a runner on first, Ryan Borucki struck out MJ Melendez to end the sixth, ensuring Jackson stayed in line for the win.

Star of the Game

Jackson continued to pitch well since joining the Pirates and was finally rewarded with his first win.

Stat to Know

Jackson became the first Pirates’ pitcher to strike out five in a row to start a game since Bruce Kison did so in 1979. Jackson’s seven strikeouts on the night set a new career-high.

Noteworthy

• Capra’s run-scoring double in the second inning was the first extra-base hit and the first RBI of his major league career.
• Reynolds and Suwinski combined for four hits, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored in the game.
• This is the first time the Pirates have won three road games in a row since winning five-straight from Apr. 17-29.

Up Next

After an off day on Thursday, the Pirates’ road trip continues to Busch Stadium for a weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Friday night. Mitch Keller (11-8, 4.01 ERA) will be on the mound for Pittsburgh and will be opposite Dakota Hudson (5-1, 4.41 ERA). First pitch: 8:15 ET.