Reds' Burns earns first career victory in 2-0 win over Pirates

Rookie pitcher delivers strong outing as Cincinnati takes series opener

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:53am

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Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher Tanner Burns earned his first career victory on Monday night, leading the team to a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener. Burns delivered a strong outing, holding the Pirates scoreless through 6 innings.

Why it matters

The Reds are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season, and a win over a divisional rival like the Pirates could provide an early boost. Burns' performance is also an encouraging sign for the team's young pitching talent.

The details

Burns, a 24-year-old right-hander, struck out 7 batters and allowed just 3 hits in his 6 innings of work. The Reds offense provided just enough support, scoring 2 runs in the 5th inning to secure the victory. This was Burns' 5th career MLB start after being called up from the minors last September.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • Burns earned his first career win in the series opener against the Pirates.

The players

Tanner Burns

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who earned his first career MLB victory in Monday's game.

Eugenio Suarez

A veteran slugger for the Cincinnati Reds who hit a 3-run homer in the team's previous game against the Boston Red Sox.

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What they’re saying

“Tanner really stepped up tonight and gave us exactly what we needed - a strong outing to set the tone for the series.”

— David Bell, Cincinnati Reds Manager

What’s next

The Reds and Pirates will continue their 3-game series on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM.

The takeaway

The Reds' young pitching talent is on display early in the season, as rookie Tanner Burns delivered an impressive performance to earn his first career MLB win. This could be a sign of good things to come for Cincinnati as they look to rebound from a tough 2025 campaign.