1976 National League Championship Series Game 1
October 9, 1976 at Veterans Stadium
Reds 6, Phillies 3  Reds Lead Best of Five Series 1-0

The Reds won the first game en route to defending their World Series title in a blowout win over the Phillies.  The game looked close, but the Reds had this one in hand from about the sixth inning on and only a ninth inning surge by the Phillies made it look closer then it was.

Don Gullett was phenomonal in his start.  He gave up a run in the first on Mike Schmidt’s sac. fly but after that first inning, he gave up only one hit.

The Reds tied the game at 1-1 in the third.  Pete Rose led off with a triple against starter Steve Carlton and then Ken Griffey walked and stole second base.  Joe Morgan flew out but it wasn’t deep enough to score Rose, but Tony Perez followed that up with a fly to right that was. 

The Reds struck again in the sixth inning.  Tony Perez struck out to start the inning before George Foster hit a solo homerun to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.  Johnny Bench flew out to center and then Dave Concepcion reached on a double.  Cesar Geronimo then reached base on Mike Schmidt’s error and then Don Gullett helped out his own cause when he singled home Concepcion to make it 3-1.

The Reds really opened the game up in the eighth.  Johnny Bench led off with a double and then Concepcion walked.  Tug McGraw relieved Carlton but he didn’t fare much better because he let each runner move over on a wild pitch.  Cesar Geronimo struck out but then Don Gullett cleared the bases with a two run double to make it 5-1.  Pete Rose doubled home Gullett to add an extra insurance run before Ken Griffey lined into a double play.

Rawly Eastwick was roughed up in the ninth frame but even those two runs didn’t make it that close.  The two teams would square off against each other tomorrow.

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