Chase Burns strikes out 10 in fourth career Reds start

There won't be much debate about Friday, July 11, being the best outing of Cincinnati Reds starter Chase Burns' young career.

OK, sure, we're only four starts into Burns' career but this one showed more progress.

Burns set new career highs for innings pitched (six) and strikeouts (10) as he limited the Rockies to four hits and two earned runs.

Burns was efficient, too, as he needed only 95 pitches to reach those thresholds in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies.

Unfortunately for Burns, he was in line for the loss after being lifted from the game as the Reds trailed, 2-1. But there's no questioning that he put Cincinnati in a competitive position. The Reds would later take Burns off the hook for the possible loss when they tied the game, 2-2, in the seventh inning.

Even as the outing game against a 21-win Colorado club, Burns appeared to take a step forward in his fourth start since being called up after just 13 starts across the Reds' minor league system.

How Burns fared prior to Rockies start

• July 6 @ Philadelphia Phillies: No decision (0-1 record). Two hits, one run, one earned run, four walks, seven strikeouts (91 pitches, 52 strikes).
• June 30 @ Boston Red Sox: Loss (0-1 record). Five hits, seven runs, five earned runs, two walks, no strikeouts (33 pitches, 22 strikes).
• June 24 vs. New York Yankees: No decision (0-0 record). Six hits, three runs, three earned runs, no walks, eight strikeouts (81 pitches, 53 strikes).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chase Burns strikes out 10 in fourth career Reds start