We might not see a filthier strikeout for a long time
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PITTSBURGH – In his young Major League career, Jared Jones has shown an incredible knack for getting whiffs and strikeouts on ugly swings.
And Monday, he may have unleashed his season’s masterpiece.
Facing Brice Turang of the Brewers in the third inning Monday at PNC Park, the Pirates' No. 3 prospect fired a slider that Turang initially started to offer at but quickly tried to hold back on; however, his momentum took him so far that he swung and fell on his backside.
That strikeout was already Jones’ fifth of the afternoon; he finished with seven while guiding the Bucs to a 4-2 win over the Crew.
He also upped his whiff total to 86 through the third inning Monday, giving him the most for a pitcher over their first five starts in the pitch tracking era (since 2008).
Jones is about as serious as they come on the mound, rarely cracking a smile. But after putting a hitter on their rear for the first time?
"I was laughing on the inside,” Jones said with a smile postgame.
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