After being blown out in the first two games of the series the Cincinnati Reds held Pittsburgh to just one run behind a dominant start by Chase Burns. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Pirates didn’t give up any runs on the day as they picked up a 1-0 win and completed a sweep.
After a game on Saturday that saw 24 runs scored a pitching duel broke out on Sunday between the starters. Chase Burns allowed a leadoff infield single in the 1st inning and then he retired the next 15 batters.
Braxton Ashcraft nearly matched him. He walked a JJ Bleday in the 1st inning and then gave up a single to Bleday in the 4th inning. He wouldn’t give up another hit until there were two outs in the 6th inning when TJ Friedl doubled into right field. Bleday came up and he smoked the ball but Brandon Lowe made a leaping snag at second base to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 6th inning Burns retired his 16th batter in a row, but Joey Bart broke through with a single to end the streak. Oneil Cruz then hit a long fly ball to right field, but Will Benson made a leaping grab at the wall for the second out of the inning. A groundout followed as Burns stranded Bart to keep the game scoreless.
Spencer Steer led off the 8th inning with a single in a game that was still scoreless. Jose Trevino then came through with a 1-out double to move Steer to third in what was the Reds best scoring opportunity of the day. Matt McLain hit a chopper to third and Steer broke for the plate and he was thrown out by 10 feet. Pittsburgh then went to the bullpen to bring in a left-handed reliever with TJ Friedl due up with runners on the corners. Manager Terry Francona opted to stay with Friedl but the move didn’t pay off as he would strike out to end the threat.
Chase Burns returned for the bottom of the 8th and he broke the bat of Marcell Ozuna but he still got enough of the ball to get it into right field for a leadoff single. Pittsburgh sent out a pinch runner and the Reds made a call to the bullpen, bringing in Tony Santillan. He came in and induced a grounder for a double play, but then gave up a double off of the wall in center to Konnor Griffin. A walk would come next. Oneil Cruz then singled up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.
Cincinnati had three outs to work with in the 9th and their 2-3-4 hitters due up to try and avoid being swept. Pittsburgh stuck with lefty Gregory Soto with JJ Bleday due up, but Dane Myers came off of the bench to pinch hit. After getting ahead 2-0 in the count, Myers would strike out. Elly De La Cruz then hit a baseball that didn’t appear to leave the batters box but was called fair and he was tagged out. Sal Stewart came up as the last hope and was looking to break out of an 0-18 slump. He came close, but his fly ball was caught on the warning track about a foot shy of the wall in left field to end the game as the Pirates completed a 3-game sweep.
Key Moment of the Game
Oneil Cruz’s single in the 8th inning that put the only run of the game on the board.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds streak of 12 wins in a row to start the season in games decided by two runs or fewer came to an end.
Chase Burns had the best start of his career, tossing 7.0 shutout innings while allowing a walk and striking out seven. His ERA is down to 2.20 on the season while having 46 strikeouts and 13 walks in his 41.0 innings pitched.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs
Monday May 4th, 7:40pm ET
Chase Petty (season debut) vs Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.06 ERA)
