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Dateline: Cincinnati
Chase Burns first start of 2026 was as good as the Reds could hope for, victimizing the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-0 win.
The Reds pitching staff broke new ground. It was Burns' first Major League win. Jose Franco's first appearance and Connor Phillips first career save.
The 23-year old, Burns, did not allow a hit until Brandon Lowe, who reached twice on walks, grounded a single through the right side of the infield. The only flaw in Burns' game was three walks. He also issued a pass to Ryan O'Hearn in the fourth to put two on with two outs but one of his seven strikeouts, this one at the expense of Jared Triolo, ended the mild threat.
"I saw the same dominant slider. I've said it a million times, as he works ahead and he will. He'll get better at it. It get very exciting," Francona said. "I thought both starters were electric tonight on both sides."
Burns finished with five full innings with one hit, three walks and seven strike outs.
"It feels good to get my first one. I hope there is many more to come." Burns said. "I am staying smooth. Staying with myself and trying not to do too much. I still had some walks. I still had some bad counts but I will get better as the season goes."
Pittsburgh's starter Braxton Anderson, gave a good account of himself too. He kept the Reds off the scoreboard for three innings, in spite of the Reds putting two runners on in the first inning with two outs.
The Reds posted two runs in the fourth inning. Elly De La Cruz, who walked in the first, singled to open the inning. With National League Player of the Week, Sal Stewart batting, De La Cruz was caught stealing by catcher Henry Davis. Sal Stewart, who singled in the first inning, walked. Eugenio Suarez singled Stewart to third. Spencer Steer's sacrifice fly scored the Reds' rookie. Will Benson tripled into the right field corner to score the huffing Suarez.
"I think Geno pulled every muscle he had," Francona quipped.
Rookie Jose Franco relieved Burns in his first big league appearance. He was greeted by a single by Lowe but Stewart started a 3-6-3 double play. He allowed hits to O'Hearn and Nick Gonzalez after two were out in the seventh. Graham Ashcraft victimized Davis for the third time with a strikeout.
"When Franco comes in and gives us an inning and two thirds, it makes everything reach," Francona said. "We had to be careful because not only do we have three guys down, (Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan and Pierce Johnson all worked two days in a row.) If we go extra innings you gotta have a pitcher. If any body had a hiccup, we might have been in trouble but they didn't they picked each other up."
"I guarantee Franco had a little heartbeat going but he looked like he belonged out there. He threw strikes for the most part. He did good, handled himself really well. That's what makes it fun. Not only did we not kill our bullpen, we won the game."
Franco was excited when they called up to add innings to the bullpen for an emergency situation just like this. Both Franco and the Reds were rewarded.
"I want to thank the Reds for trusting me," Franco said through interpreter, Tomas Vera. "I was nervous. The moment was huge. Everything was moving, I was super nervous. After that firs pitch I took a breath and I said, 'this is like everywhere else, let's do it.' It was a big night. It was a dream come true. All the work that I put in and the bumps on the road, being here today was huge."
Ashcraft pitched six innings. The Reds managed two runs againstr him on four hits and four walks. Ashcraft struck out three.
The Reds' Ashcraft retired all four batters he faced, three by strikeouts.
Justin Lawrence struck out the side for Pittsburgh in the eighth inning, including Stewart which broke his streak of reaching base seven straight times over the last two games.
Connor Phillips the Reds' hero on Saturday came on in the ninth to attempt his first save. Phillips walked Marcel Ozuna and O'Hearn to start the inning. Triolo struck out. Horwitz flied out routinely to left. Nick Gonzalez dumped a troublesome flair into short right field. Benson and McLain both got to it. McLain gloved it for the out as Benson slid into the second baseman's leg to make the finish a little more dramatic.
"Adversity is for spring training. I was teasing with him after, I said you don't have to walk those guys, but any experience is good experience. He got it done tonight so he'll leave feeling good," Francona said. "The two walks aren't what you're looking for but DJ made a really good trip to the mound and Connor reeled it in. So, that is what you're looking for."
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