Jones propels Pirates past Diamondbacks

PHOENIX (AP) — The way rookie Garrett Jones is going these days, even the balls he doesn’t think are home runs wind up clearing the fence.

Jones hit his major league-best 10th homer in July and Zach Duke won for the first time in a month, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

“He’s unconscious right now, huh?” Duke said. “It seems like anything you throw him, it’s off the wall or over the wall. He’s fun to watch right now, that’s for sure.”

Jones snapped a 2-all tie in the fifth with a two-run shot that triggered a four-run rally. His line drive just went over the right-field fence after Delwyn Young’s one-out single.

It was Jones’ first homer with a runner on this season — but he didn’t think this one would get out.

“Honestly, no,” Jones said. “I was just hoping he wasn’t going to catch it.”

Ryan Doumit and Steve Pearce followed with singles to chase starter Yusmeiro Petit (0-5). Brandon Moss singled home a run and Ramon Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.

The Pirates added four runs in the eighth, including RBI singles by Moss and Young, who had three of the team’s 16 hits.

The 28-year-old Jones is hitting .342 with 17 extra-base hits since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 30. His 10 homers tied Donn Clendenon’s franchise record for July. Ralph Kiner hit 16 in September 1949, the club record for any month.

“All hitters kind of get in that zone where you feel good,” Jones said. “I’m not saying I’m there, but I’m seeing the ball well, as well as I have my whole career. I’m just trying to slow everything down. It feels good to be able to start like this.”