Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones was removed from Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves after throwing six perfect innings and striking out eight on 77 pitches.
Mason Montgomery replaced Jones to start the top of the seventh in a scoreless game. Montgomery got one out before allowing a single to Ozzie Albies that deflected off third baseman Nick Gonzales' glove to ruin the combined perfecto. Albies' hit was greeted with loud boos from the PNC Park crowd.
(Video Source: MLB.com)
Jones is the first starting pitcher in the modern era (since 1901) to retire every batter faced in a start of six or more innings and not get the win, according to OptaStats.
"It's a tough one, man," Pirates manager Don Kelly said, according to Wes Crosby of The Associated Press. "We've talked about it before. Health is the most important thing. Winning the game and then personal accomplishments (is) third. Wanting guys to stay healthy is the No. 1 thing with these guys because we need Jared for the rest of the season throwing the ball like that."
The Pirates' decision to not let Jones chase history comes three days after the Miami Marlins caused controversy by removing Eury Pérez after seven perfect frames and 92 pitches against the Athletics.
Jones, however, has been on a strict pitch limit of between 75 and 85 pitches this season while working his way back from elbow surgery. He hasn't thrown more than 81 pitches in a game since returning to the majors and had no issue with Kelly's choice to pull him from Wednesday's contest.
"Not with the pitch count," Jones said. "Not really ever expecting to go nine right now, so that was never in my head."
The 24-year-old now owns a 4.37 ERA and 1.14 WHIP along with 39 strikeouts and 11 walks over eight starts in 2026.
There has never been a combined perfect game in MLB history. Only 24 perfect games have ever been thrown, with the most recent one belonging to Domingo Germán in 2023.
The Braves went on to shut out the Pirates 3-0. Joey Bart, whom Pittsburgh traded to Atlanta in June, burned his former team by hitting the game-winning homer in the eighth inning.
