CINCINNATI (AP) — Chase Burns threw six innings of one-run ball, Matt McClain drove in two runs and the Cincinnati Reds snapped their eight-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Burns (4-1) struck out two and allowed four hits. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft lowered his ERA to 2.11, good for third in the National League and seventh in the majors.
The Reds' skid was their longest since also dropping eight straight early in the 2024 season.
Houston's Braden Shewmake started the scoring with a homer in the fifth inning.
The Reds answered in the bottom of the frame. After Cam Smith dropped a pop-up in right field to allow Jose Trevino to load the bases, McClain drove in two with a single to left and Elly De La Cruz brought one more across with another single.
Zach Cole fired a strike to home to throw out McClain and end the inning, one batter after his throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to cross.
Pierce Johnson worked a hitless ninth to pick up the save.
Houston's Spencer Arrighetti (4-1) allowed five hits and three runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings for his first loss of 2026. He struck out five and walked three.
Yordan Alvarez had a double and two walks. His .327 batting average ranks third in the American League.
LHP Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.13) starts for Cincinnati in the final game of the series. Houston has not announced a starter.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Houston Astros' Zach Cole hits a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. hit an inside-the-park home run on a grounder and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Saturday night.
Michael Massey had a three-run homer for the Royals, who will go for the series sweep on Sunday night.
Witt hit the ball down the right-field line in the first inning that bounced off the wall and eluded right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Witt motored around the bases and beat the relay throw to the plate for a two-run homer.
It was the Royals’ first inside-the-park home run since Witt did it in August 2023.
Carpenter left the game later with left shoulder soreness.
Wacha (4-2) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out six. It was his longest scoreless outing since throwing eight scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 11.
Burch Smith (0-2) took the loss. He retired only one of the four batters he faced, allowing two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.
Massey's homer in the fourth inning came with runners on first and third with two outs. He lined the ball over the right-center field fence for his third homer of the season.
Wacha had at least one strikeout in each of his first four innings. The Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth on a double, a walk and a hit batter, but Wacha got Matt Vierling to ground out to end the inning.
The Tigers scored in the eighth on a two-out double by Riley Greene.
The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. The Tigers have not announced a starter, though manager AJ Hinch said it will be a bullpen game. Kansas City will send LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey watches his three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Burch Smith hands the ball to manager A.J. Hinch (14) during a pitching change in the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. dives home to score after hitting a inside-the-park home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
