The Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Chicago White Sox a 2-0 defeat at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday, September 10, 2026, behind a dominant seven-inning performance from right-hander Jared Jones, who allowed just one hit and struck out eight. Oneil Cruz did the offensive damage with a home run and two RBI, providing all the run support Pittsburgh would need. The Sox managed next to nothing against a Pirates pitching staff that combined for 11 strikeouts and held Chicago to two hits across nine innings.

Jared Jones Dominates, White Sox Offense Goes Quiet

Jones was simply in a different gear Thursday night. Over seven innings, he scattered one hit and two walks while punching out eight Sox batters. He left Guaranteed Rate Field with a well-earned win, giving the Pirates bullpen a comfortable cushion to work with. Luke Weaver followed with a perfect eighth inning, striking out two, and Mason Montgomery closed it out in the ninth — surrendering one hit but getting the final out — to earn the save.

The White Sox offense had no answer. Two hits across nine innings tells the whole story. Chicago's lineup could not string anything together against Jones, who was commanding from the first pitch to the last.

Oneil Cruz Provides All the Offense Pittsburgh Needed

Cruz was the story on the other side of the ball. The Pirates shortstop went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, accounting for every Pittsburgh run. His long ball off Erick Fedde was the decisive swing of the game. Cruz's three-hit night was a reminder of how dangerous he can be when he gets locked in.

White Sox Pitching Kept Them in It — Offense Did Not

To be fair to the Chicago pitching staff, they were not the reason this game was lost. Hagen Smith opened the game and was solid through two innings — two hits, no earned runs, three strikeouts, no walks. That is a quality two innings of work from Smith.

Erick Fedde absorbed the loss, working 5.1 innings and allowing both Pittsburgh runs on four hits. The Cruz home run was the critical blow. Bryan Hudson worked 0.2 innings in relief, and Jordan Hicks closed out the ninth with a strong frame — two strikeouts, no hits, no runs — but the damage was already reflected on the scoreboard.

Turning Point: Cruz's Home Run Off Fedde

The moment that defined this game was Cruz's home run against Fedde. With Jones dealing, the Sox needed a zero from their starter in the innings that mattered most. The Cruz blast changed that equation and gave Pittsburgh a lead that Jones's dominance made feel insurmountable from the moment it left the bat.

Key Performances

  • Oneil Cruz (Pirates): 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Jared Jones (Pirates, W): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
  • Hagen Smith (White Sox): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
  • Erick Fedde (White Sox, L): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Jordan Hicks (White Sox): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
  • Mason Montgomery (Pirates, SV): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

What's Next for the White Sox

Chicago drops this one at home and will need to respond. The pitching showed enough on Thursday to suggest the staff can compete, but the offense has to provide some support. Two hits in a nine-inning game is not a formula for winning baseball. The Sox will look to bounce back in their next contest and get something going at the plate.