Chase Burns pitched five solid innings and extended his personal winning streak to eight games as the Cincinnati Reds recorded a 4-1 victory over the host New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds won a series at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three seasons. Cincinnati also improved to 7-11 without Elly De La Cruz, who started a minor league rehab assignment Friday and is nearing a return from a strained right hamstring.
Burns (9-1) allowed only Ben Rice’s 22nd homer in the third among five hits. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out seven, walked three and withstood six New York stolen bases in seven attempts.
Burns improved to 8-0 in his past 11 starts and is the first Red to earn eight straight wins since Tom Browning in 1989. The right-hander also struck out at least seven for the seventh straight outing.
Tyler Stephenson hit a three-run homer in the fourth off New York rookie Elmer Rodriguez (0-2) as the Reds outscored the Yankees 14-3 in the final two games of the series after striking out 17 times Friday. Noelvi Marte added an RBI double in the ninth after Spencer Steer doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error by center fielder Jose Caballero.
Rice homered to right field in the third to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Rice hit his 22nd homer after Burns picked Anthony Volpe off first base, though the shortstop tried to argue first baseman Sal Stewart was blocking the base.
Jasson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole two bases apiece, giving the Yankees an AL-best 80 steals. It was the first time since Sept. 5, 2013, against Boston that the Yankees stole six bases.
Rodriguez allowed three runs on four hits in four-plus innings during his fourth career start. The right-hander struck out four and walked two after being called up for his first start since May 17 against the Mets.
Rodriguez made the start instead of Gerrit Cole as the Yankees decided to give their starting pitchers an extra day of rest. Cole will pitch Monday’s series opener in Detroit.
Sam Moll retired pinch hitter Paul Goldschmidt with two on to end the sixth, and Caleb Ferguson stranded a runner in the seventh. Tony Santillan notched the final six outs for his fifth save.
