Dateline: Cincinnati
The Reds needed innings from a starter. It was a big ask for the 23-year old Chase Burns but he stepped up.
The Reds were swept but Burns set up the Reds bullpen and may have prevented a three-game sweep turn into a long a tidal wave.
The Reds spent too much of their ammunition on two lost causes, 9-1 and 17-7 losses against the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Reds dropped a 1-0 decision to the Bucs but Burns pitched into the eighth inning.
The Pirates scrambled for an eighth inning run off Tony Santillan.
Burns started the eighth and made a good pitch to Marcel Ozuna but he shattered his bat and just dropped for a hit. It was the third hit of the game off Burns. Santillan got a double play from Spencer Horwitz. It appeared the winning run was prevented but rookie Konnor Griffin doubled off the wall in center. Pinch hitter Jake Magnum walked. Oneil Cruz singled the deciding run home.
Burns finished with seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk. He struck out seven. It was the longest outing of his career.
Braxton Ashcraft matched him pitch for pitch for pitch. He turned in his longest career outing, 7 2/3 scoreless on four hits. He walked two and struck out six.
The best chance the Reds had to score was in the top of the eighth inning. Spencer Steer singled to start the inning. Will Benson struck out. Jose Trevino doubled. Steer stopped at third. Matt McLain took two pitches that were called balls, both were overturned on appeal by catcher Joey Bart.
It changed the entire complexion of the at bat. Instead of taking a tough pitch, he had to protect the plate. He topped a slow roller to third baseman, Nick Gonzales. In that situation Steer was running on contact. Gonzales made the scoop and throw on the charge home to nail Steer.
Left hander Gregory Soto relieved Ashcraft, a lefty hitter and struck him out.
Soto got the win retiring the Reds in order in the ninth. Sal Stewart’s attempt at a long ball died on the warning track in Magnum’s glove.
The Reds fell two games behind the streaking Chicago Cubs.
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