GAME 1 (Crosley Field) CIN 13, MON 2:
The downtrodden Reds scored early and often. At first manager Keller was content to play small ball and scratch for runs, but then the floodgates opened and there were no worries. Montreal's so called ace, Steve Rogers, gave up 10 runs (6 earned) in 2 2/3 innings of work. Ross Grimsley did a nice job of allowing only 2 earned runs over the next 5+, but by then the outcome was totally locked. Joey Jay went 5 for the Redlegs to notch the win. Jay has 3 of the Reds' 9 victories. Frank Robinson hit two homers and knocked in 5. Jay himself hit a solo shot. Injury note: Johnny Klippstein left with shoulder tightness after 1 batter.
GAME 2 (Crosley Field) MON 6, CIN 5:
Up by a score of 6-1 the Expos went into cruise control and almost paid dearly. Dan Schatzeder
was cruising until the Reds attacked him in the 6th for 3 runs. He did earn the win to go 4-0, and threw one of those "quality starts" that drive managers crazy.
Montreal jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first Rodney Scott dragged a bunt and wound up on second as Red catcher Johnny "Doc" Edwards threw it away. Gary "Camera" Carter doubled him home and Andre Dawson singled home Carter. Both teams exchanged runs in the 4th. Tony Perez hit the first of his 2 homers on the day to lead the inning off. Cincy scratched out a run via small ball to negate Perez' homer. Montreal looked to break it open in the 6th as they scored 3 off of Red starter Bob Purkery (0-7). Dawson, who had 3 hits on the day led off with a single. Perez then hit a 2 run shot. Valentine and Speier both singled off Purkey and moved up a base as Schatzeder successfully bunted them over. Cromartie singled them both home and when Scott and Parrish walked to load the bases it looked like the final dagger was going to be inserted. The Kid, Gary Carter couldn't deliver the knock out blow as Purkey managed to fan him on 4 pitches to end the inning. Cincy struck back in the bottom of the inning by scoring 2 of their own. Wally Post tripled with 1 out and Vada Pinson doubled him in. Coleman walked and pinch hitter Foiles singled home Pinson. Stan Bahnsen was called on to put out the fire and save Schatzeder's bacon by getting both Zimmer and Purkey to pop out. Cincy would then manage to chip away with 1 in the 7th via Frank Robinson's 8th homer of the year. Montreal entered the 9th with a tenuous 2 run lead. Woodie Fryman, who relieved Bahnsen gave up a lead off single to Blasingame and was promptly removed for closer Elias Sosa. Sosa, who has been shaky at best this season, got Eddie Kasco to pop out to Perez at first. Robinson followed with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Wally Post fanned for the second out and all looked good for the Expo righhander until Pinson single in a run and now the pressure was really on. Gordy Coleman crushed a 2-1 offering to deep center that Dawson barely tracked down to end the game as Montreal was happy to escape with 6-5 win.
GAME 3 (Olympic Stadium) MON 8, CIN 7:
This contest firmly illustrated how bad teams like the Red flat out find ways to lose and why managers go gray and/or get heart conditions. The Reds jumped out to a 3 run lead in the first as they chased Expo starter Scott Sanderson from the mound. Sanderson got 1 out, but gave up 5 runs and had 3 earned runs charged to his name. Rudy May came on board to limit the damage in the first, but couldn't not prevent the Reds from scoring 3 more runs over the next 5 2/3 innings. Morris "Moe" Drabowsky wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire with his pitching skills as he found a way to allow the Expost to stay close. Montreal scored 2 in the third to cut it to 3-2. Drabowsky was gone after 5 innings of 5 run ball and the knowledge that he was not able to capitalize on great run support. Still he was leading. Red manager BIll Keller put his faith on reliever John Tsitouris, who for the most part held the Expos big bats in check. After scoring a solo run in the 9th Cincy carried a 1 run lead into the bottom of the frame. Andrew Dawson led off with a bunt single only to be forced at second by Tony Perez. By this time Tsitouris gave way to ace reliever Jim Brosnan, who served up a walk off gopher ball to Ellis Valentine. Montreal stole games 2 and 3 from a down and defeated Red team that couldn't close the door. Sosa got the win, but his 1 run in 1 inning performance certainly didn't leave the hometown fans with any semblance of confidence that he can be trusted down the stretch. Frank Robinson hit a 3 run homer for his 4th of the series to up his yearly total to 9. Robinson (.328) has been the lone bright spot in this disappointing campaign for the Reds.
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