Cincinnati Reds at Seattle Mariners

The Trade Deadline has and will dominate most of the conversations about the Reds until Aug. 3 comes and goes. But starting pitcher Chase Burns doesn't have to worry, because he's not going anywhere. With his first All-Star Game in the rearview -- and a big new contract signed and sealed, too -- Burns went back to work for the second half Tuesday and did pretty much what he did during the first half for the Reds. Burns worked five scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and six strikeouts and left with a three-run lead in the Reds' 4-2 win over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. "He was attacking, always getting on the hitter," said shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who hit a leadoff home run to begin the game and made a game-saving diving stop defensively in the sixth inning as Seattle threatened with a rally. Burns pitched for the first time since July 8, and a lot has happened since. Because of a tight right groin from covering the plate on a wild pitch, he pulled out of pitching in the All-Star Game, but still attended. After the break, the 23-year-old signed a seven-year, $105 million contract on Saturday. “Just knocking off some rust. Just getting back in the groove of things," Burns said. “I was excited to get back out there. I didn’t get to pitch in the All-Star Game, so I was hungry to get back out there.” Now 12-1, Burns lowered his ERA to 2.42 with 124 strikeouts over 107 2/3 innings. It was the 16th time in his 19 starts that he's allowed two or fewer runs. “He competes really well," manager Terry Francona said. "I didn’t think he had his best fastball tonight, but his slider is still such a weapon that it’s really kind of an equalizer.”