Chase Burns pitched well despite the Reds' defeat on Sunday.
The Cincinnati Reds were defeated by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday by a final score of 1-0. The Pirates swept the Reds with the win, but Sunday's contest was a different game than the first two matchups of the series. Pittsburgh cruised to big victories over Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday was a pitcher's duel between Chase Burns and Braxton Ashcraft.
Burns went seven innings and did not allow a run. He allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out seven. Meanwhile, Ashcraft turned in 7.2 innings of shutout baseball while only walking two hitters and giving up four hits. He struck out six hitters.
The Reds ended up losing the game after the bullpen surrendered a run. Nevertheless, Burns did everything he could to help his team. The best pitchers on teams often find ways to give their ball club an opportunity to win when the team has been struggling. That is exactly what occurred on Sunday, but the Reds were defeated in the end.
Reds manager Terry Francona was certainly impressed by Burns' outing, something he explained after the game via MLB.com.
"Well he pitched his rear end off, man. He pitched so well," Francona said of Burns. "On a day when we really needed it for a lot of reasons."
Francona continued by stating Burns' start not only helped the Reds have an opportunity to win the ball game, but it also saved the bullpen. Cincinnati's bullpen unquestionably needed saving.
On Friday, Brady Singer turned in only 3.1 innings. The Reds ended up giving up nine runs in a 9-1 defeat. In the team's 17-7 loss open Saturday, Rhett Lowder only pitched 1.1 innings.
Chase Burns is Becoming an Ace
When Hunter Greene returns from his injury later in the season, he will take over the ace role once again. Nevertheless, Burns looks like an ace right now. If he continues to pitch like he is, he will instantly become one of the best No. 2 starting pitchers in the sport of baseball.
The 23-year-old has recorded a 2.20 ERA through his first seven starts of the new campaign. Burns also has 46 strikeouts in his 41 innings on the mound this year.
The Reds may have struggled against the Pirates, but Burns is establishing himself as one of the better pitchers in all of MLB.
Cincinnati will attempt to get back into the win column in their next game against the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM EST on Monday night.