The Cincinnati Reds blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 at Great American Ball Park in a game heard last night on WRBI. Chase Burns allowed one hit and three walks while striking out seven in five scoreless innings of work to earn his first Major League win. Connor Phillips came on in the 9th inning to notch his first big league save. Both of the Reds runs scored in the 4th, on a Spencer Steer sacrifice fly to right, and a Will Benson RBI triple that brought home Eugenio Suarez. Game two of the series is tonight. Lefthander Brandon Williamson gets the start for Cincinnati. Pittsburgh counters with righthander Bubba Chandler. Airtime is 6:10 on 103.9 FM.
Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart is the National League Player of the Week. Stewart hit .700 with three doubles, a home run, two runs batted in, with seven hits in 13 plate appearances during Major League Baseball’s Opening Week. The 22-year-old Stewart made history in last night’s game, when he reached base three times in four plate appearances. He becomes the youngest player to reach base safely three or more times in each of his team’s first four games since at last 1900. Stewart scored the Reds first run on Steer’s sac fly in the 4th.
The college basketball world will descend on Indianapolis this weekend for the men’s Finals Four. Purdue senior guard Fletcher Loyer will take part in the 3-point shooting contest on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Butler Bulldogs will be without a key player next year. Guard Finley Bizjack has announced that he is entering the transfer portal. He’s also declaring for the NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility.
