BASEBALL: SP Chase Burns earns first MLB victory as Reds blank Pirates

Chase Burns tossed five one-hit innings with seven strikeouts as the host Cincinnati Reds earned a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

Burns (1-0) threw 78 pitches and walked three, allowing his first hit in the top of the fifth when Spencer Horwitz singled. He worked out of trouble after Nick Gonzales grounded into a fielder’s choice, striking out Henry Davis and Oneil Cruz to keep the Pirates off the board. The Tennessee native, who appeared in 13 games and made eight starts for Cincinnati last season, earned his first major league win.

The Reds provided Burns all the run support he needed, scoring both runs in the bottom of the fourth off Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft (0-1). Elly De La Cruz led off the inning with a single but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Ashcraft then walked Sal Stewart, who advanced to third on a single by Eugenio Suarez, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Spencer Steer. Will Benson added an insurance run with a triple to right field, bringing home Suarez.

Ashcraft threw 87 pitches over six innings, allowing just two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts, recording a quality start despite taking the loss.

The Pirates, who won for the first time on Sunday, continued to struggle at the plate. They left eight runners on base and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, two key offseason acquisitions, were the only consistent hitters through Pittsburgh’s first four games. Lowe reached base three times, twice via walks, while O’Hearn recorded a hit and two walks.

Pittsburgh had a late opportunity in the ninth after Marcell Ozuna and O’Hearn drew back-to-back walks. But Reds reliever Connor Phillips closed the game, earning his first career save by striking out Jared Triolo, inducing a flyout from Horwitz, and finishing when Matt McLain caught a Gonzales pop-up in short right, despite a minor collision with Benson.

The victory gave Cincinnati its third straight win after an Opening Day loss to the Boston Red Sox.

—Field Level Media/Reuters