Friday, July 16, 2010

‘76 Reds take 2 of 3 from ‘55 Boys of Summer

9/10-9/11 - Riverfront Stadium
GAME 1 - Reds 3, Dodgers 2 (6 inn - PPD rain)

Jack_Billingham_CIN This contest started with a light, but steady rain falling on the Queen city.  The Big Red Machine broke the ice with 3 big runs in the bottom of the 3rd off of Dodger starter Carl "Oisk" Erskine.  Red pitcher Jack Billingham led off the inning with a clean single off of his opposite number.  After Pete Rose flew out to left, Ken Griffey tripled in Billingham to make it 1-0.  1975 and 1976 NL MVP Joe Morgan singled home Griffey to make it 2-0.  George Foster singled to right to put runners on the corners and "Doggie", Tony Perez lifted a sac fly to right that was too deep for the "Reading Rifle", Carl Furillo to make a play on Morgan.  Furillo, who's strong right arm was not a match for the fleet feet of Morgan, found a way to get even with his bat when he launched a two run homer to right center that scored Gil Hodges who had walked to lead off the 3rd.  Fast forward to the top of the 6th when Furillo led off with a walk and moved to second on a ground out by Sandy Amoros.  As Don Zimmer stepped to the plate the heaven's opened up.  90 minutes later the ups were forced to call the game on account of rain and the Reds took the 3-2 rain shortened win.

GAME 2 - Reds 6, Dodgers 1
This was not the blowout that it appeared to be.  Brooklyn wasRoger_Craig_BKN nursing a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th when reliever extraordinaire, Clem Labine, went into meltdown mode and allowed 6 unanswered runs.  Lost in the shuffle was the 6 inning 3 hit shutout performance by Dodger starter Roger Craig, who was removed in the top of the 7th for a pinch hitter in an attempt to blow the game wide open.  With 1 out Hodges walked and Jackie Robinson singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Don Zimmer followed that with an RBI single to put runners on the corners.  With Craig due up, Dodger skipper Marc Weiss brought in Frank Kellert to pinch hit and get some additional runs.  This strategy would backfire as Kellert was given an intentional pass to load the bases and "the Captain" Pee Wee Reese would ground into a Johnny_Bench_CIN routine 6-4-3 DP to end the threat.  Labine had a smooth 7 inning, but the 8th would be his undoing as Cincy would send 10 batters to the plate.  The big blows would be a 2 run double by Tony Perez and a 2 run single by Johnny Bench, who has been struggling all season with a .226 average.  Rawly Eastwick would toss a clean 9th in relief of Don Gullett (2-1, 2.63).

9/12- Ebbets Field
GAME 3 - Dodgers 4, Reds 1

Don Newcombe fashioned a dominant performance at theDon_Newcombe_BKN plate and on the hill.  Big Newk (4-2, 2.97) threw a complete game with 7 strike outs and only 1 run allowed.  He also went 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI to increase his season average to .296.  Brooklyn posted a solo run in the bottom of the 1st when Roy Campanella doubled home Junior Gilliam with 2 outs.  Ken Griffey hit a solo shot to lead off the 4th to tie the game at 1 all.  Brooklyn answered back with 2 in the bottom of the 4th, when Gil Hodges singled home Furillo and Newk doubled home Gil.  Furillo double home Gilliam for the 4th run in the bottom of the 5th off of Cincy starter Gary Nolan.

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