August 11, 1976 at Wrigley Field 

Reds 13, Cubs 10  (74-40)

The Reds had one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history as they topped the Cubs on the toad.  Fred Norman and Pedro Borbon were shelled through the first three innings and gave up ten runs.  By the end of the second inning, the Reds were down 9-0.  By the end of the third inning, they were down 10-1.

Rookie reliever Manny Sarmiento finally calmed things down and pitched a shutout fifth.  The Reds scored two runs in the sixth to shave the lead to 10-3 and then Rawly Eastwick held the Cubs scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Joe Morgan led off with a walk and moved to third on George Foster’s single.  Then Johnny Bench cleared the bases with a three run shot to make it 10-6.  Tony Perez kept things going with a single and then he scored on Cesar Geronimo’s double to make it 10-7.

Will McEnaney held the Cubs scoreless in the bottom of the seventh.  Then in the top of the eighth, Ken Griffey led things off with a strikeout.  Joe Morgan walked and moved to third on George Foster’s single.  Then Johnny Bench drove home Morgan to make it 10-8.

McEnaney again held the Cubs scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, and then Dave Concepcion led off the ninth with a single.  He stole second base but Bob Bailey struck out.  Pete Rose moved Concepcion over to third and then Ken Griffey hit a huge two run shot to tie the game at ten a piece to complete the come back.

Pat Zachry relieved McEnaney in the ninth and held the Cubs scoreless and the game went into extra frames.  Johnny Bench reached first base on an error by Mick Kelleher, and Eddie Armbrister ran for him.  Tony Perez then singled and Armbrister scored on an error by Pete LaCock.  Cesar Geronimo struck out, and then Knowles balked and Perez moved to third.  Then Dave Concepcion singled home Perez and Doug Flynn tripled home Perez to make it 13-10.

Zachry got the Cubs to go down in order in the bottom of the tenth to finish the game up.  He improved to 11-3 on the season.

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