After a tough eight-game slide, the Cincinnati Reds finally found their footing again—and they owe a big thank you to their rookie sensation. Chase Burns delivered a masterful performance on the mound, pitching six innings of one-run ball to lead the Reds to a much-needed 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, continues to impress in his debut season. He struck out two and allowed just four hits, lowering his ERA to a stellar 2.11—good for third in the National League and seventh across all of Major League Baseball. At just 22 years old, he's already proving why the Reds invested so heavily in his future.
The game started quietly, with both pitchers trading zeros through the first four innings. Houston struck first in the fifth when Braden Shewmake launched a solo home run, putting the Astros on the board and putting pressure on the Reds' offense to respond.
And respond they did. In the bottom of the fifth, the Reds capitalized on a costly mistake by Astros right fielder Cam Smith, who dropped a routine pop-up that loaded the bases. Matt McClain stepped up and delivered a clutch two-run single to left, giving Cincinnati the lead. Elly De La Cruz followed with an RBI single of his own, extending the advantage to 3-1.
The inning wasn't without drama, though. Astros outfielder Zach Cole showed off a cannon arm, throwing out McClain at home plate to end the frame. But the damage was done—the Reds had their first lead in what felt like ages.
Pierce Johnson shut the door in the ninth, working a clean inning to notch the save and seal the win. The victory snapped Cincinnati's longest losing streak since early in the 2024 season.
On the other side, Houston's Spencer Arrighetti (4-1) suffered his first loss of 2026 despite a solid outing. He allowed five hits and three runs (only one earned) over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking three. Yordan Alvarez continued his hot streak with a double and two walks, maintaining his .327 batting average—third-best in the American League.
The Reds will look to build on this momentum in Sunday's series finale. Left-hander Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.13 ERA) takes the mound for Cincinnati, while Houston has yet to announce a starter.