Chase Burns hadnât worked into the seventh inning at any point in his young career with Cincinnati prior to Sunday. After six dominant, scoreless frames against Texas, manager Terry Francona allowed his 23-year-old right-hander to return to the mound, despite the bullpen running thin.
The decision nearly backfired.
Burns surrendered a game-tying solo homer to Joc Pederson to open the seventh, a fly ball that carried with help from the wind at Globe Life Field. Still, Cincinnati regrouped and held on for a 2-1 win, completing a three-game sweep over Texas.
The difference came in the eighth inning, when Elly De La Cruz lined an RBI single that brought home Matt McLain from second base, restoring the lead.
Burnsâ final line remained strong despite the late damage. He allowed just one earned run on five hits across six-plus innings, striking out nine with one walk. Through his first two outings, he owns a 0.82 ERA, building on a five-inning, scoreless effort earlier in the week that earned him his first big league win.
Cincinnati initially grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning behind an RBI single from Eugenio SuĂĄrez, which plated De La Cruz. Burns protected that advantage deep into the game, even escaping a sixth-inning threat by striking out Jake Burger with a runner in scoring position.
With key late-inning armsâincluding Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio PagĂĄnâunavailable after heavy usage, the Reds needed length from Burns. He reached 80 pitches through six innings before returning for the seventh, where Pedersonâs homer evened the score. Statcast measured the wind-assisted drive as gaining an additional 25 feet with the roof open.
After Evan Carter followed with an infield hit on Burnsâ 87th pitch, Francona turned to the bullpen. Pierce Johnson entered but issued a walk and uncorked a wild pitch, bringing further pressure. Sam Moll stepped in with two outs and closed the inning without additional damage.
Connor Phillips handled the eighth, navigating traffic that included a double and a walk, preserving the narrow lead.
At 6-3 through nine games, Cincinnati continues to lean on tight, low-margin victories, with every win so far decided by two runs or fewer.
