Jones needed just 15 pitches to get through the first inning. He allowed just one hit — a two-out single to Joey Ortiz — in his first four innings of work. But the best way to illustrate his dominance came in the top of the third inning, on a strikeout against Milwaukee’s Brice Turang.

Behind in the count 1-2, Turang stood in the left-handed batter’s box looking for another fastball, which is what Jones threw him the prior two pitches. But rather than getting another heater, the Brewers’ second baseman instead was met by an 89.9 mph slider that caused him to slip and fall flat on his back.

Turang’s check swing on the pitch ended the at-bat on a strikeout. Before getting back to his two feet, the 24-year old simply looked at Jones on the mound and shook his head in awe.

At the plate

Just one day after admitting his confidence had taken a hit throughout his recent slump, Cruz bounced back against Milwaukee, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. The performance marked just his second three-hit game of the season, with the other coming on April 5 in the club’s home opener loss to the Orioles.

Up next

Tuesday: Brewers at Pirates, 6:40 p.m., PNC Park.

TV, radio: SportsNet Pittsburgh, KDKA-FM (93.7).

Probable starters: LHP Bailey Falter (1-1, 4.05) for Pirates; TBD for Brewers.

Key matchup: Falter enters Tuesday coming off three straight solid starts, having allowed just three earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight in 16 total innings of work.

Hidden Stat: McCutchen’s single in the bottom of the third inning marked No. 1000 in a Pirates uniform.

Wednesday: Brewers at Pirates, 6:40 p.m., PNC Park.

Wednesday’s starters: RHP Quinn Priester (0-1, 8.31) for Pirates; RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 1.90) for Brewers.

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