Jared Jones' slider, Konnor Griffin's speed leads Pirates to 1-0 win against Angels

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sep 4, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — For much of this season, the Pirates have implored Jared Jones to expand his arsenal to more than two pitches.

But on Friday, those two pitches were all Jones needed.

Jones threw six shutout innings on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, leading the Pirates to a 1-0 victory at PNC Park. Eighty-three of his season-high 91 pitches were fastballs or sliders, but the pairing dominated the Angels anyways.

Jones threw his slider 45 times. With it, he racked up seven of a season-high nine strikeouts. The Angels whiffed on 19 of their 31 swings against the pitch. Since pitch-tracking began in 2008, no Pirate has ever recorded that many whiffs with a slider.

He threw the pitch early and often. Zach Neto led off the game with a strikeout against it. When Jones allowed two singles to start the second inning, he stranded runners on the corners with two strikeouts on the pitch. Vaughn Grissom grounded into a double play in the fourth on a slider at his feet.

And at the end of his outing, as Don Kelly pushed Jones to the year’s longest outing, Jones struck out four of the final five hitters he faced. Three of the four Ks came on the slider.

The Pirates needed Jones’ slider to be excellent, as Friday was not a particularly strong offensive day. They managed just five hits against Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson and two relievers.

Fortunately for the Pirates, Friday brought the return of Konnor Griffin. Griffin showcased his speed in the second inning, scoring from first on a Jake Mangum double that didn’t even reach the Clemente Wall. Griffin sprinted around the bases and slid under the tag, narrowly beating the relay home.

With the win, the Pirates improved to 70-72.

It was over when …

… Mason Montgomery recorded the save, his ninth of the season. He allowed a leadoff single to Mike Trout, but he struck out two of the next three hitters to clinch the win.

On the mound

After a bumpy August, pitching to a 7.40 ERA, Jones excelled in his first September start. He threw 63 of his 91 pitches for strikes.

Wilber Dotel relieved him, throwing two scoreless innings in his first big league game since he was recalled. Dotel walked one and struck out two, with his fastball ticking up to 100.9 mph.

Dotel walked the first batter he faced in the eighth before a fielder’s choice groundout. Oneil Cruz made a strong sliding catch of a sinking liner to keep the Angels from putting a threat together.

At the plate

Bryan Reynolds was the lone Pirate to record multiple hits, starting the sixth with a double and singling in the eighth. Spencer Horwitz walked twice.

The Pirates had an opportunity to break the game open in the eighth as Horwitz walked, Reynolds singled and Nick Gonzales was hit by a pitch. But lefty Samy Natera Jr. struck out Cruz to end the threat.

Bucs bites

— Before the game, the Pirates honored Jack Wilson, John Candelaria and Wilbur Cooper. All three were inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame on Thursday night, then recognized with an on-field ceremony. Candelaria’s first pitch was caught by fellow league ERA leader Paul Skenes.

— Additionally, third base coach Tony Beasley sang the national anthem.

Up next

The Pirates and Angels will play the second game of a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. Saturday. Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-5, 5.65 ERA) will face off against Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (14-5, 3.59).