Chase Burns Shines Despite Harper’s Scorching Line Drive in Reds’ Victory

In a thrilling display of resilience, Chase Burns showcased his talent on the mound for the Cincinnati Reds, despite a scare from a blistering comebacker off the bat of Bryce Harper. The 108.8 mph liner struck Burns, but he quickly recovered, fielding the ball and tossing it to first base to retire Harper and end the sixth inning. Although the impact was jarring, leaving Burns with a bruise near his upper groin, he remained focused on the game, heading to the clubhouse for treatment after the inning.

“I’ll tell you what,” Reds manager Terry Francona remarked, reflecting on the moment, “that was scary. The way he ran off the mound, I thought he was OK. Then he got in the dugout, and it looked like he was dead. I asked him, please tell me you have a cup on. He said, no. I was like, Chase, I don’t even watch a game on TV without wearing a cup.”

Despite the close call, Burns continued to dominate on the mound, leading the Reds to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 23-year-old right-hander, selected second overall in the 2024 amateur draft, delivered another impressive performance, striking out nine hitters over six innings and lowering his ERA to 1.83.

Burns utilized his devastating slider effectively, complementing it with 99 mph fastballs. He allowed only three hits, issued no walks, and achieved 18 swings and misses during his outing. The lone blemish on his performance came from Trea Turner, who hit a solo home run in the third inning. Nevertheless, Burns remained a force, having allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his ten starts this season and one or fewer runs in seven of those appearances.

Each time Burns took the mound, the oversized All-Star game logo in the Ashburn Alley concourse served as a reminder of his potential. When asked about the possibility of joining the Midsummer Classic, Burns acknowledged, “It might be in the back of my mind somewhere.”

Francona praised Burns’ competitive spirit, stating, “He’s given us what we needed,” especially during challenging stretches. Burns has emerged as a key contributor for the Reds, boasting a 0.72 ERA and three wins in May alone. His performance marks a stark contrast to last season, where he struggled with a 4.57 ERA in eight starts.

Reflecting on his development, Burns noted, “I’m just taking everything I learned from last year and putting it into this year. Learning about routines and how to stay healthy during the week. Just executing pitches, really.” He has become the first Reds starter since Hunter Greene in 2024 to throw at least six innings while allowing two runs or fewer in five consecutive games, a feat not accomplished by a Reds pitcher aged 23 or younger since Jay Tibbs in 1984.

“I think he’s special now,” Francona added. “What he grows into will be what he grows into.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.