Big Red Machine Rumbles over Boys From the South.

Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati,

Game 1,
Mickey Mahler and Bill Bonham battled to the tune of a scoreless tie for most of the game. Bonham tired after seven innings of 4-hit, shutout ball.  Mickey Mahler lasted a bit longer. At least until the bottom of the ninth inning when Johnny Bench came to the dish to take his licks. Bench got a hold of a Mahler offering and unleashed a laser shot over the left field fence for his seventh dinger of the year and a walk off triumph for the home team favorites. Reds 1....Braves 0.

Game 2,
 The Braves got sweet revenge in the form of right hander Preston Hanna. Hanna earned his second win of the season tossing two hit, shutout ball over 6.2 innings pitched.  lumbering first sacker, Dale Murphy crushed his 9th homerun of the year to lead the offensive surge.  Fred Norman fell to 2-6 as it was not his day. Braves 5....Reds 1.

Game 3,

Paul Moskau was overpowering in a complete game shutout that yielded only three hits to the slumping Atlanta batters.  The right hander also helped himself with the bat too. With a runner on base in the seventh inning, Moskau launched a tremendous shot to left center that landed in the stands. This long blast increased the Reds lead to 3-0 which sealed the win.  Jamie Easterly (2-1) received the loss. Reds 3....Braves 0.