July 9, 1976 at Riverfront Stadium
Reds 12, Pirates 11 (52-21)

Reds fans got their money’s worth at this scoring extravaganza as the two defending division champs squared off in a doubleheader. The Pirates jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after half an inning but Tony Perez cut that lead down with a solo shot in the second.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Reds took their first lead of the game. Joe Morgan led off with a fly out while George Foster reached first on a single. He stole second and moved over to third on Manny Sanguillen’s throwing error. Tony Perez struck out but then Johnny Bench kept the inning alive with a walk. Then Dan Driessen hit a huge three run homer to give the Reds a one run lead.

The Pirates tied things up in the fifth inning, but the Reds answered in a big way in the bottom of the seventh. Gary Nolan led off with a ground out, then Pete Rose, Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan singled in succession to give the Reds their lead back. George Foster flew out, but then Tony Perez cleared the bases with a double to make it a three run game. Johnny Bench followed that up with a single to make it 8-4.

With things looking pretty locked up, the Pirates exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth. Gary Nolan and Pedro Borbon were tagged for five runs on five hits. Fortunately the Reds answered in the eighth. Rennie Stennett made an error that resulted in Eddie Armbrister scoring to tie the game up.

Things started off poorly for the Reds in the top of the tenth. Will McEnaney continued to struggle and gave up a two run homer to Richie Zisk. Fortunately, the Reds never said die.

Cesar Geronimo led off the inning with a single, but Dave Concepcion hit into a double play. With two outs, things looked grim, but Bob Bailey’s pinch hit single kept the inning alive. Pete Rose drew a walk to put the winning at the plate and then Ken Griffey drew a walk to load the bases. Then Joe Morgan drew a walk to drive home Bailey and cut the lead to a single run. George Foster followed that up with a single that scored Rose and Griffey to end the game.

Rawly Eastwick improved to 6-3 on the season. Tony Perez’s homerun was his eleventh of the season and Dan Driessen’s homer was his third.

July 9, 1976 at Riverfront Stadium
Reds 2, Pirates 1 (53-21)

Both the Reds and the Pirates must have been tired in the back end of their doubleheader, and it showed on the scoreboard. Both teams rode their starters for complete games and Fred Norman got the better of Doc Medich. Norman gave up a single run on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He improved to 7-2 on the season.

Dan Driessen went two for four with a double and and RBIs. Ken Griffey drove in the other Reds run and Doug Flynn went two for three and scored both runs.

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