PITTSBURGH — Jared Jones was nearly perfect Saturday afternoon. Colin Holderman and David Bednar followed the rookie’s lead, limiting the opposition to just one base runner through nine innings. And while the offense continued to struggle, when it counted most, Jack Suwinski came through.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Derek Shelton called upon Suwinski to pinch-hit with the game on the line. Suwinski needed two pitches to reward his skipper’s decision, pushing a game-winning single to left field off Nick Mears to lift the Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the Rockies at PNC Park.

Once again, Jones rewarded the fans who showed up to the ballpark.

The Pirates star righty made easy work of the Rockies lineup, striking out 10 in seven one-hit innings. His lone mistake came in the top of the fifth, when he allowed a lead-off double to former Pirates catcher Elias Diaz. But after that, Jones locked back in and continued to cruise.

Another quiet day at the plate for the Pirates came to a close in the bottom of the ninth. Connor Joe started the rally with a lead-off single. After moving to second, and then third, Mears walked Jared Triolo and Oneil Cruz to load the bases, setting the table for Suwinski’s heroics.

Bednar was the game’s winning pitcher, improving his record to 2-2 on the year. Mears was the loser, dropping him to 0-3.

On the mound

Jones’ 10-strikeout effort made him just the second pitcher in franchise history to tally double-digit strikeouts in his first seven starts, joining Jose DeLeon.

At the plate

Rockies starter Austin Gomber became the latest opposing pitcher to dominate the Pirates lineup, throwing six shutout innings. Pittsburgh tagged the 30-year-old lefty for just four hits, three of them singles.

Shelton’s club has not tallied a run off a starting pitcher since Ke’Bryan Hayes brought home Michael A. Taylor with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning Tuesday evening in Oakland.

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