‘76 Big Red Machine sweeps ‘08 Phightin’s

8/29-8/30 - Citizen's Bank Ballpark
GAME 1 - '76-Reds 4, '08-Phillies 2
Kyle Kendrick was protecting a 1-0 lead when the Big Red Machine erupted for 4 runs in the 6th.  Red starter Santo Alcala led off the frame with a single and was doubled over to third by "Charlie Hustle", Pete Rose.  Ken Griffey Sr. doubled home both runners, then scored when Joe Morgan hit a two run shot to left center.  Philly scratched out a run in the bottom of the inning when J-Roll scored on a sac fly by Ryan Howard that was a hair away from being a 3 run homer.  Credit Cesar Geronimo for making a fantastic leaping catch against the wall to rob Howard of a game tying shot.  After that close call Alcala was sent to the showers and Pedro Borbon Sr. pitched the next 3 1/3 innings to record the save.

GAME 2 - Reds 9, Phillies 5
Brett Myers couldn't stop the Big Red Machine from scoring runs and was gone after six innings after giving up 5 runs on 11 hits.  Fred Norman (3-0, 1.96) did a masterful job of keeping the Phightin's off the board, sans an unearned run in the 6th.  The top of the 9th saw the Reds score 3 off of Ryan Madson to make it 9-1 and blow the game wide open.  Manny Sarmiento was tagged to finish out the game for the Reds and wound up yielding 4 runs to make this one look so close that Will McEnaney had to come on to get the final out.  George Foster had a 4 for 5 day with 2 RBI's and 2 homers for the Reds.  Geoff Jenkins and Chase Utley each had big homers during the Phills ill fated comeback in the 9th.  Dave Concepcion also went 4 for 5 for Cincy.

8/31 - Riverfront Stadium
GAME 3 - Reds 6, Phillies 0
In a battle of young lefty aces Don Gullett (7.2 IP / 0 R) got the best of Cole Hamels (7.2 IP / 6 R).  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 4th when the Reds broke the ice with a Dave Concepcion solo shot to lead off the inning.  After George Foster singled with 1 out, "Doggie" (Tony Perez) lined a 2 run shot down the left field line to make it 3-0.  Two innings later the Reds struck again with the long ball.  Griffey Sr. and Foster led off the 6th with clean singles off Hamels.  Perez lined out to Utley at 2nd, so the runner remained at the corners.  Bob Bailey, who was playing left for the Reds, hit his second consecutive warning track shot.  This one however plated Griffey Sr., who strolled home to make it 4-0.  With HOF'er Johnny Bench getting the day off to rest, backup Bill Plummer decided to do his best bench imitation by launching a 2 run shot off of Hamels to make it 6-0.  Rawly Eastwick came on for the final 4 outs to share the shutout with Gullett in a very impressive outing vs one of the greatest offensive teams of all time.