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07/18 14:39 CDT Valdez and Gonzalez homer, Jones strikes out 9 as Pirates roll
to 7-1 win over Guardians in Game 1
Valdez and Gonzalez homer, Jones strikes out 9 as Pirates roll to 7-1 win over
Guardians in Game 1
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Esmerlyn Valdez and Jacob Gonzalez hit two-run homers, Jared
Jones struck out nine in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the
Cleveland Guardians 7-1 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Nick Gonzales added a solo shot in the sixth inning as the Pirates extended
their winning streak to four games. At 51-47, it is the first time they are at
least four games over .500 after the All-Star break since Sept. 25, 2018.
Cleveland All-Star rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana had an RBI triple in
the third inning to drive in Steven Kwan for the lone run as the Guardians had
a four-game winning streak snapped.
Pittsburgh's 128 homers are fifth in the majors. Gonzalez put the Pirates on
the board with a two-run drive to right field that went 428 feet off Cleveland
starter Gavin Williams (10-5). Valdez extended Pittsburgh's advantage to 4-1 in
the sixth when he connected on a fastball and drove it over the wall in
right-center.
Jones (2-1) allowed one run on three hits and walked one. After throwing six
perfect innings in a no decision against Atlanta on July 8, the right-hander
retired the first eight Cleveland hitters before Kwan's base hit to left.
Dating back to Jones' July 2 outing against Philadelphia, he became only the
third Pirates' pitcher since 1957 to retire at least 30 batters in a row.
Harvey Haddix retired 38 straight during two outings in 1959 and Jim Bibby got
out 32 straight across two games in 1981.
Williams gave up five runs on seven hits in six innings. It was the second time
in the right-hander's four-year career he has allowed three home runs in a game.
Up next Cleveland's Logan Allen makes his first start of the year in the nightcap. The Pirates are expected to go with a bullpen game, but have not named an opener. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Up next Cleveland's Logan Allen makes his first start of the year in the nightcap. The Pirates are expected to go with a bullpen game, but have not named an opener. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
