Pirates denied Jared Jones baseball history but probably had no other choice

The Pittsburgh Pirates denied Jared Jones a chance at baseball immortality Wednesday night. They also probably made the only decision they realistically could.

Jones was perfect through six innings against the Atlanta Braves, retiring all 18 batters he faced and striking out eight in the process. It was easily his best outing since returning from internal brace surgery on May 29, and it came against an Atlanta lineup that has been a problem for pitchers all season.

For six innings, Jones made the Braves look helpless. That is what made the ending so frustrating.

After Jones completed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, he was met with hugs in the dugout. His night was over at 77 pitches. Manager Don Kelly had to literally chase him down and grab him to deliver the news.

Mason Montgomery entered in the seventh, and the perfect game disappeared almost immediately when Ozzie Albies singled just beyond the reach of Nick Gonzales. The no-hitter was gone, the shutout eventually followed, and the Braves went on to beat the Pirates, 3-0.

Don Kelly pulling Jared Jones after six perfect innings vs Braves was the right choice

It's easy to understand why fans were upset. Perfect games are impossibly rare. Jones may never be in that exact position again. He had just struck out Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin twice apiece. Even a would-be home run from former Pirates catcher Joey Bart stayed in the yard thanks to Bryan Reynolds’ leaping catch at the wall.

Everything about the night felt like history was lining up for Jones. But the Pirates were never going to let a pitcher coming off elbow surgery chase 115 or 120 pitches in early July, no matter how clean the box score looked. Since returning after more than a year away, Jones has generally been kept in the 70-to-80 pitch range. That wasn't going to change just because the circumstances became emotionally inconvenient.

Jones himself seemed to understand that better than anyone afterward. As frustrating as it was, he acknowledged the decision made sense.

The bigger takeaway should be how dominant he looked. Jones showed signs of progress last week in Philadelphia, when he allowed just two hits over four innings, but Wednesday was something different. This was the version of Jones the Pirates have been waiting to see again — explosive, efficient, fearless and in complete command.

The bullpen and offense turned what should have been a celebration into another frustrating loss. But the Pirates’ decision with Jones was about more than one game. It was about protecting a pitcher who matters far beyond one July night.

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