Chase Burns' brilliant start wasted in shutout loss to the Pirates

The Cincinnati Reds failed to take advantage of the most impressive start of Chase Burns’ career.

After seven shutout innings from Burns, the Reds couldn’t scratch together a run and lost, 1-0, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale on Sunday, May 3.

After entering this series with a ton of momentum, the Reds got swept in Pittsburgh. PNC Park continues to frustrate the Reds, who have now lost 48 of their last 69 games and 17 of their last 12 games in Pittsburgh.

Burns was electric on Sunday, striking out seven batters and pitching with remarkable efficiency. The Reds needed a big game from him, and he delivered. The offense had poor timing for a bad day.

Entering Sunday, the Reds’ pitching staff had been taxed. The team was coming off of its two shortest starts of the entire season by Reds’ pitching. As a result, the bullpen had to cover a ton of ground and had been taxed.

Burns’ terrific start gave the bullpen a much-needed break as he pitched into the eighth inning. But setup reliever Tony Santillan couldn’t keep the game tied in the eighth.

Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin doubled off of Santillan to get the rally started with two outs. Then, Santillan walked No. 9 hitter Jake Magnum, who was pinch-hitting for backup catcher Joey Bart. Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz was looming in the on-deck circle, and Pittsburgh’s best hitter singled to center field to score Griffin and give the Pirates the lead.

The Reds had their best scoring chance earlier in the eighth inning. A double by backup catcher Jose Trevino gave the Reds two runners in scoring position with two outs. The Pirates brought in a lefty to face Reds center fielder TJ Friedl.

Reds manager Terry Francona could have used pinch-hitter Dane Myers, who has been platooning with Friedl lately. But Friedl has been swinging the bat well, and Francona stuck with him in that game-changing moment. Friedl struck out to end the inning.