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Reds Hammer Phillies to Take Commanding 2-0 Lead in NLCS

October 10th, 2006 | Brian

1976 National League Championship Series Game 2
October 10, 1976 at Veterans Stadium
Reds 6, Phillies 2 Reds Lead Best of Five Series 2-0

The Reds took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best of five series with the Phillies and while they were down early, they came back decisively and pushed to within a game of their second straight World Series. Pat Zachry got the start for the Reds and Jim Lonborg threw for the Phillies.

Zachry was touched up early for a run in the second inning on Bob Boone’s RBI single. He then gave up another run in the fifth on Greg Luzinski’s solo homerun. In the meantime, the Reds were completely shutdown and Lonborg had a no hitter going through five innings before the wheels fell of the wagon in the sixth.

Dave Concepcion led off the sixth win a walk and he moved over to second on Dan Driessen’s ground out. Pete Rose singled home Concepcion to put the Reds on the board to make it a 1-0 lead. Ken Griffey singled to center and Pete Rose moved to third on a close play. The throw to third allowed Griffey to scoot to second base and that put two men in scoring position with only one out. Gene Garber replaced Lonborg (who at this point had only given up two hits in the entire game) and walked Joe Morgan to load the bases up. Tony Perez then reached first on Dick Allen’s error at first base and this allowed to Rose and Griffey to score to make it 3-2. George Foster then grounded out, but Joe Morgan made it home to make it a four run inning.

Pat Zachry came out of the game in the bottom of the sixth and he gave the ball up to Pedro Borbon, who was phenomonal. The Phillies scattered only four hits off of him in the final four frames and he end up picking up the save. The Reds added two extra runs in the seventh on Ken Griffey’s RBI single and Tony Perez’s sac. fly. The only time the Phillies really threatened was in the eighth when they put two men on with nobody out, but a double play cut that inning short.

The two teams had the day off tomorrow while things shifted to Cincinnati. The Reds would have two chances to win their second straight National League pennant in front of their hometown crowd.

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