Reds secure series victory as Burns and Suárez shine against Mariners
Chase Burns delivers five scoreless innings following a major contract extension, while Eugenio Suárez hits a solo home run against his former club to help the Reds defeat Seattle 4-2 on Tuesday night.
The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Tuesday night, securing a crucial win in the series finale. The victory was anchored by Chase Burns, who pitched five scoreless innings for Cincinnati, striking out six batters while allowing just three hits and issuing one walk. Burns, who agreed to a $105 million, seven-year contract on Saturday, maintained control throughout his outing, with the Mariners advancing a runner into scoring position only twice against the All-Star right-hander.
Eugenio Suárez provided significant offensive support by hitting a solo home run against his former team. Suárez, who played parts of three seasons for Seattle, drilled a first-pitch fastball from Mariners starter Luis Castillo in the fourth inning to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead. The blast marked Suárez’s 203rd home run in a Reds uniform, tying him with Eric Davis for 10th place on the franchise’s career home run list.
Cincinnati’s scoring began earlier in the game when Elly De La Cruz opened the proceedings with a lead-off home run, his eighth of his career. The Reds extended their lead with an insurance run in the fifth inning via a sacrifice fly by Sal Stewart, and Nathaniel Lowe added a solo shot in the ninth to seal the victory. Emilio Pagán closed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his eighth save.
Seattle’s Luis Castillo pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing two runs, but the Mariners could not overcome Cincinnati’s early advantage. Weston Wilson hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to narrow the gap, and Julio Rodríguez added a solo shot in the eighth. Rodríguez began the night on the bench after exiting Monday’s game early, while infielder J.P. Crawford missed the contest due to a sore wrist.
The financial context of the game highlighted the shifting dynamics between the two franchises. Burns’ $105 million deal is comparable to the $108 million contract Castillo received from Seattle, a figure that emerged after the Reds declined to commit to a similar long-term investment during a period described as having limited competitive success. Meanwhile, Reds infielder Spencer Steer sat out the game after being hit by a pitch in the ribs on Monday.
The series concludes with a matchup between Seattle RHP Emerson Hancock (6-4, 3.17 ERA) and Reds RHP Brady Singer (4-9, 4.56 ERA) on Wednesday afternoon.
