NEW YORK – The month of May has been electric for Reds right-hander Chase Burns, and Tuesday night was similar in a 7-2 victory over the Mets. For most of the game, Burns’ four-seam fastball was dominant. It’s the reason he struck out the side in the first inning and retired 15 of the first 18 hitters he faced.
However, Burns had problems with the slider – his only secondary pitch – and it forced him to rely heavily on No. 1, and it was proven costly in the sixth, when Juan Soto hit a monster two-run homer to reduce the lead to 6-2.
“The heater was really good tonight,” Burns said. “I felt like I was throwing only one pitch for a strike. It was kind of working. It would be better if [the slider was working]. The slider was not in the zone enough. The lefty hitters did a good job of laying off of it when it was low. It just needs to be a little bit better.”
Burns left the game in that same inning after allowing a single to A.J. Ewing, but the bullpen bailed him out and helped Burns win his seventh game of the season. During the month of May, Burns won four games, allowed four runs in 30 1/3 innings, and struck out 33 batters.
“I’m just attacking hitters, trusting my stuff,” Burns said. “I try to limit walks and let the hitters get themselves out.”
Reds manager Terry Francona saw the maturity in Burns the moment Spring Training started.
“You see the way he carries himself now. He doesn’t have to be told where he is going,” Francona said. “He knows his routine. I think the (pitching coach) did a good job with him this spring when we slowed him down during the one-time through (the lineup). I think you are seeing the benefits of what we did.”
Although he has been dealing for most of the season, Burns believes he still has a lot to learn about the nuances of pitching.
“Every time I go out, I learn just like tonight. I can take the positives and the negatives and get ready for the next start,” he indicated.
